SENSITIVE PLANTS. 259 



plains, almost destitute of vegetation. But a portion of 

 the valley formed a pleasant contrast to these desolate 

 stretches, being clothed with cactuses and several species 

 of mimosa, tliat interesting family of sensitive-plants so 

 largely represented in the tropics. In our own States we 

 have only a few species, but here they are often the most 

 numerous and conspicuous forms, towering high above the 

 other vegetation. We have already described the Saman 

 del Guere, near Valencia, in Venezuela, a member of this 

 family, forming, from its gigantic size and graceful pro- 

 portions, the central object in the beautiful scenery of the 

 valley of Aragua. In Southern Brazil, Fletcher tells us 

 of whole groves of these sensitive-plants, which, upon the 

 approach of evening, fold their leaves, and open them 

 again only with the light of the morning, some even an- 

 ticipating the coming day. This family of plants are, by 

 a wise j^rovision, furnished with sharp prickles, wliich con- 

 stitute an effectual protection from rude approach. Why 

 they should fold their leaA^es at the approach of evening is 

 inexplicable.* It tells of a strange sympathy existing 

 throughout Nature, animate and inanimate — of the laws of 

 which we are yet ignorant. 



Late in the evening we arrived at the Hacienda of Itul- 

 cachi, a cattle-farm and bread-factory, situated at the base 

 of the Eastern Cordillera. Learning that our baggage 

 had not arrived, we resolved to pass the night here, in 

 hopes that it might come up during the evening. There 

 is something interesting in these old haciendas ; perhaps 

 the same interest that attaches itself to any ruins, for 

 they are generally fallen into decay, with their broken 



* " One fact, among others, showing that the changes are not caused 

 by the light, but by some power in the plant itself, is this : The leaves 

 of the sensitive-plant close long before sunset, but they expand again 

 before sunrise, under much less light than they had when they closed. 

 Besides, in this, as in many other plants, the leaves take the nocturnal 

 position when brushed or jarred." — Oray. 



