PHENOMENA OF PLANTS. 201 



hibit some phenomena which arc supposed to arise from the state of the atmos- 

 phere accm-ate observci's of nature have made remarks upon these changes, as 

 prognosticating certain changes of weather. Lord Bacon, who was remarkably 

 attentive to all the appearances and changes of natural objects, is the author of the 

 following observations : " Ghtckweed {Anagallia). — When the flower expands boldly 

 and fully, no rain will happen for four liours or upward : if it continues in that 

 open state, no rain will disturb the suumier's day ; Avhen it half conceals its minia- 

 ture flower the day is generally showery ; but if it entirely shuts up or veils the 

 white flower with its green mantle, let the traveler put on his great-coat, and the 

 plowman, with his beast of draught, expect rest from their labor. Siberian Soic- 

 thistle (Sonchus). — If the flowers of this plant keep open all night, rain will cer- 

 tainly fall the next day. Trefoil {Hedysarum). — The« difterent species of trefoil 

 always contract their leaves at the approach of a storm ; hence these plants have 

 been termed the husbandman's barometer. African Marygold. — If this plant 

 opens not its flowers in the morning about seven o'clock, you may be sure it will 

 rain that day, unless it thunders. White thorns and dog-rose bushes. — Wet sum- 

 mers are generally attended with an uncommon quantity of seed on these shrubs, 

 and their unusual fruitfulness is a» sign of severe winter." Besides the above 

 there are several plants, especially those with compound yellow flowers wliich 

 during the whole day turn their flowers toward the sun, viz., to the east in the 

 morning, to the south at noon, and to the west toward evening. This is very ob- 

 servable in the sow-thistle, Sonchus arvensis ; and it is a well-known fact that a 

 great part of the plants in a serene sky expand their flowers, and as it were, with 

 cheerful looks behold the light of the sun ; but before rain they shut them up, as 

 the tulip. The flowers of the chick-wintergreen {Trientalis) droop in the night, 

 lest rain or moisture should injure the fertihzing pollen. One species of wood-sorrel 

 shuts up or doubles its leaves before storms and tempests, but in a serene sky ex- 

 pands or unfolds them, so that husbandmen can foretell tempests from it. It is 

 also well known that the sensitive-plants observe the same rule. 



307. Besides aff'ording prognostics of weather, many plants fold themselves 

 up at particular hours, with such regularity as to have acquired names from this 

 property. The following are among the more remai-kable plants of tliis descrip- 

 tion. Goaf s-beard. — The flowers of two species of IVagopogon open in the morning 

 at the approach of the sun, and without regard to the state of the weather, regu- 

 larly shut about noon. Hence it is generally known by the name of go-to-bcd-at- 

 noon. The four-o clock (Mirabilis), sometimes called princess' leaf, is an elegant 

 slirub in its native clime, the Malay Islands. It opens its flowers at four in the 

 evening, and does not close them till the same hour in the morning. It is said 

 people transplant this plant from the woods into their gardens, and use it as a dial 

 or clock, especially in cloudy weather. The Evcyiing Primrose {CEnothcra) is well 

 known from its remarkable property of regularity, shutting with a loutl popping 

 noise about sunrise, and opening at sunset. After six o'clock these flowers regu- 

 larly report the approach of night. The Twnarind-trce, the water-lily {^\ipnpha;a), 

 the marygold, the lalse sensitive-plant, and several others of llie Diadelphia class, 

 in serene weather expand their leaves in the daytime, and contract them during 

 the night. According to some, botanists, the tamarind-tree infolds within its leaves 

 the flowers or fruit every night, in order to guard them from the cold or rain. 

 The flower of the garden lettuce opens at seven o'clock, and shuts at ten. A 

 species of aloc.t, whose large and beautiful flower exhales a strong odor of the 

 Vanilla during the time of its expansion which is very short, is cultivated in the 

 imperial garden of Paris. It does not blossom until toward the month of July, 

 and about five o'clock in the evening, at which time it gradually opens its petals, 

 expands them, droops and dies. The Ccreus grandiflorus exhibits an exquisitely 

 beautiful flower, and emits a highly fragrant odor for a few hours in the night, anH 

 tlien closes, to expand no more. The flower is nearly a foot in diameter, the inside 

 of the calyx of a splendid yellow, and the numerous petals are of a pure white. 

 Several species of the Cereus are nocturnal flowers. The flower of the danddion 



306. Lord Bacon's observations— Plants wliicli turn toward the sun.— 307. Plants which hajig their 

 heads at night and in storms— The go-to-bed-at-noon— The foui-o'clock— Evening primro'i.'- Tama- 

 rind-tree, &.C. — Aloes — Nifjlit-li'ooinin^' Ccreus, &;c 



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