FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



CHAPTER X. 



SENSITIVE PLANTS. 



CULTIVATED in green-houses as curiosities several 

 species of exotic plants have received the name of 

 " sensitive plants." These are, perhaps, the most 

 decided in their exhibition of irritability, or move- 

 ment, when touched ; but the same phenomenon in a 

 less degree is to be found in a vast number of plants. 

 Poets have taken advantage of this extraordinary 

 faculty, and invested those which possessed it with 

 mystery and romance. 



A sensitive plant in a garden grew, 

 And the young winds fed it with silver dew, 

 And it opened its fan-like leaves to the light 

 And closed them beneath the kisses of night. 



Travellers in foreign climes have delighted to- 

 descant on the wonderful sensitive plants. " Looked 

 upon with such interest in our green-houses, but 

 which here abound (Brazil) as common as wayside 

 weeds. Most of them have purple or white globular 

 heads of flowers. Some are very sensitive, a gentle 

 touch causing many leaves to drop and fold up - r 

 others require a ruder hand to make them exhibit 



