Iv ON PLANT LIFE 153 
or washed away. LEverybody, however, has 
observed that even in fine weather certain 
flowers close at particular hours. This habit 
of going to sleep is surely very curious. Why 
should flowers do so? In animals we can 
better understand it; they are tired and 
require rest. But why should flowers sleep ? 
Why should some flowers do so, and not 
others? Moreover, different flowers keep 
different hours. The Daisy opens at sunrise 
and closes at sunset, whence its name “ day’s- 
eye.” The Dandelion (Leontodon) is said to 
open about seven and to close about five; 
Arenaria rubra to be open from nine to three; 
the White Water Lily (Nymphea), from about 
seven to four; the common Mouse-ear Hawk- 
weed (Hieracium) from eight to three; the 
Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis) to waken at 
seven and close soon after two; Tragopogon 
pratensis to open at four in the morning, 
and close just before twelve, whence its 
English name, “John go to bed at noon.” 
Farmers’ boys in some parts are said to regu- 
late their dinner time by it. Other flowers, 
on the contrary, open in the evening. 
