MEASURES FOB PROTECTING GROWING PLANTS FROM LOSS OF HEAT. 



537 



^schynomene Indica, an elegant herb-like plant with papilionaceous flowers and 

 extremely delicate doubly -pinnate leaves, as well as the Indian Smithia sensitiva 

 (which likewise belongs to the PapilionaceEe), fold their leaflets together above, and 



Fig, 134. — Mimosa pudica in day and niglit positions. 



depress the common leaf-stalk directly the first rain-drop has produced a shaking. 

 The same applies to several mimosas (Mimosa pudica, sensitiva, casta, dorniiens, 

 humilis, viva), of which the first, a species native in Brazil, is represented in fig. 

 134. In these mimosas there is really to be noted a threefold movement; first of 

 all the tiny leaflets fold together above, and at the same time direct themselves a 



