PERSONALITY OF PLANTS 
There are other movements of leaves and 
flowers the object of which is not quite so ap- 
parent. For instance, there is the Hedysarum 
Gyrans or Oscillating Sainfoin. Each of its 
leaves has three folioles. ‘The center one is very 
large and stands bolt upright, except at night, 
when it condescends to bend its head in sleep. 
The two lateral folioles are in perpetual oscil- 
lation both day and night. Nothing but a very 
hot sun seems able to stop their movement. 
Possibly, this plant is a fresh air fiend which 
requires a steady atmospheric flow upon its 
respiratory surfaces! ‘The two lateral folioles 
of each leaf are delegated to act as fans and 
blow a constant supply of air upon their majestic 
brother. 
Similar oscillations have been noticed in 
some Orchids, where a part of the flower’s 
corolla rises and falls with a regular rhythm not 
unlike the beating of a human pulse. 
The stamens and pistils of flowers sometimes 
have the power of movement. If an insect, 
wandering about in the flower of the Barberry 
Tree (Berberis Vulgaris), happens to touch 
the base of a stamen, it bends forward with a 
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