198 PEARLS AND PEBBLES. 



Dodder coiled round the supporting stem of the Golden 

 Rod, the latter bore its yellow blossoms fresh and fair 

 to view uninjured. I preserved several specimens of the 

 united flowers for my herbal. 



The stem of the Dodder was leafless, of a rather rusty 

 green, hard and wiry ; the numerous clusters of flowers 

 were greenish white. 



Another species of this curious plant, with thready 

 orange-colored coils, I found on the rocks twining among 

 grasses and other herbage. 



SENSITIVE PLANTS. 



There are certain flowers, the floral organs of which 

 are so sensitive that the slightest touch affects them. 



This sensibility, though differing from what I have 

 called vegetable instinct, seems to indicate a sense of 

 feeling akin to a life principle existing in the flower. 

 Possibly the more learned naturalist may object to my 

 crude idea on this most interesting subject. I know little 

 beyond what observation teaches or suggests, and am 

 open to correction when I err. My main object in these 

 pages has been to awaken an interest in young readers, 

 such as to induce them to seek and learn for themselves. 

 Knowledge thus gained is very pleasant and leads 

 upward and onward to higher and more satisfactory 

 results. 



Everyone knows the nervous sensitiveness of the 

 leaves of the Sensitive Plant, which on the slightest 



