174 VEGETABLE KINGDOM DIAGRAM 10 



are placed in the midst of a watery pulp. In the strawberry, the 

 seeds, like those of wheat, are arranged round a fleshy mass, which 

 is eaten, and is therefore called the fruit. 



Sleep of plants. The life of plants is as interesting to study as 

 that of animals, and on closely observing them, we notice in them 

 a number of curious actions. Thus many plants sleep at night. 

 In the evening the leaflets of the acacia gradually contract two 

 and two together, and the common stalk droops a little. Next 

 morning the stalk rises, and the leaflets unfold again for the 

 whole day. The sleep of clover is equally remarkable. On the 

 approach of evening, the two lateral leaflets of the three which 

 compose its compound leaf fold together, while the middle one 

 folds over the two others, and covers them like a roof. In the 

 morning, the three leaflets unfold afresh. 



