PLANTS THAT PRODUCE LIGHTS 129 



which lay eggs in the spore-bearing tissues of 

 these plants. Thus the plant lights up its house 

 for its guests, just as men light their houses at 

 night. 



The light produced by fungi is due to phosphor- 

 escence. It is commonly found in old wells, caves, 

 and especially in mines. Here it produces a most 

 weird effect on the observer. The light is steady, 

 and constant, never flashy, or glimmering, and is 

 usually of a white, green, or blue character. The 

 effect produced is not unlike that of moonshine 

 lighting up a fairy castle! And so bright is this 

 light that one may easily distinguish objects near 

 at hand. 



Numbers of the larger flowers, like the sunflower, 

 nasturtium, marigold, and tiger lily, emanate a 

 phosphorescent glow. The lights given forth by 

 these plants are more varied in colour than those 

 in the deep caves and mines : some are violet, others 

 green, and still others orange or red. 



Many interesting superstitions have arisen re- 

 garding the double marigold, whose deep orange- 

 coloured flowers give forth on dry, clear evenings 

 coruscations of mimic-lightning which plays over 

 the petals. 



"Flowerlight" may easily be seen by any one 

 who will but have the patience to wait and watch 



