YOUNGER YEARS OF A PLANT. 193 



feature in the life of plants. A great number of leaves, 

 however, alter their position by night and by day. Some 

 make a half, some a quarter revolution, and then turn 

 their points downward. Others, again, fold up, in regular 

 order, the youngest leaf first, as if it required most rest, 

 whilst the oldest are apt to do entirely without it. In 

 other plants it is the state of the atmosphere which deter- 

 mines such movements the beards of the geranium and 

 the wild oat curl up in dry weather, and straighten again 

 in damp days other plants do the contrary. The hygro- 

 metrica of South America closes the leaflets of its finely 

 pinnated foliage long before the clouds rise, and thus fore- 

 tells the impending change of the weather, and the plant, 

 known among us as the fly-trap, is called in its home on 

 the warm plains on the banks of the Senegal, the good- 

 morning flower, because at that season of the day it grace- 

 fully bends over and bows to the passer-by. On the 

 banks of the Ganges, however, exists a vegetable form, so 

 quick of life as to resemble some of the minor animals 

 in its motion. The leaflets of this singular plant are in 

 perpetual motion: one leaflet will rise by a succession of 

 little starts and then fall in like manner; while one rises, 

 another droops, and thus the motion continues and extends 

 over the whole foliage. Nor does it cease at night ; in 

 fact it is said to be more vigorous even in the shade, and 

 in the still, hot hours of an Indian summer-night the plant 

 is full of life and incessant motion. Not less singular is 

 the action for it is more than motion of plants, like 

 Venus's fly-trap, and others. The flowers are covered with 

 sweet honey, and thus allure many an unfortunate insect, 

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