ATMOSPHERICAL CHANGES INDICATED BY PLANTS. 15 



" Among the loose and aiid sands 



The humble Arenaiia creeps ; 



Slowly the purple star expands, 



But soon within its calyx sleeps."' — Agnes Slnclila7id. 



The great white ox-eye (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), fore- 

 telling the coming storm, closes its flowers. 



" There gay Chrysanthemums repose, 

 And when stern tempests lower. 

 Their silken fringes softly close. 



Against the shower." — Agnes StricMaml. 



The Goat's-beard (Tragopogon pratensis) will not, in cluiidy 

 weather, unclose its petals. 



" Broad o'er the imbricated cup 



The Goat's-beard spreads i!s golden rays ; 

 But shuts its cautious petals up, 



Retreating from the iioonfide blaze.'' — C. Smith. 



This plant has obtained the name of "John go to bed at noon ;". 

 and the farmers' boys, in some parts of the country, it is said, know- 

 ing this, regulate their dinner time by the closing of the Tragopogon. 



The Gentianella ( Gentiana acaidis) is sensibly affected by ap- 

 proaching moisture in the atmosphere : — 



" Oh, would my heart were like to thine, 



Thou dark and lovely flower, 

 Open whene'er the sun doth shine, 



But closed against the shower; 

 Gladly receiving all that's bright, 



Refusing all that's ill, 

 Conscious of tempest and of blight, 



But pure and shielded still. 



" The tempest broods — how keen thy sense — 

 Each leaf is fulded fast, 

 And thou hast made thy self-defence 



Against the sweeping blast. 

 Harmless the win<ls have passed thee bj', 



The rain dr.jjis find no rest ; 

 Lightly they fall, as tear or sigh, 

 Upon thy guarded breast." — Anon. 



The Water Lily (JVymphea alba), " the Naiad of the river," and 

 several others of that tril)e of plants, in serene calm weather, expand 

 their leaves in the day time and contract them during night : — 



" Come, seek the Lily's still, calm haunts, and see 

 The waters s])orting round their pearl)' cups; 

 If ye e'er gazed on aught more beautiful. 

 Oh tell me what it was, for ne'er have L" — 3Iiss Twamleij. 



The common and despised Dandelion (^Leonlodon taraxacum) is 

 one of the most correct " dial flowers," opening at seven in the morn- 

 ing and closing at five in the afternoon : — 



" Leontodons unfold 

 On the swart turf their ray-encircled gold ; 

 With Sol's expanding beam the flowers unclose, 

 And rising Hesper lights them to repose," — JJarwiii, 



