224 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



This shrub 1 belongs to the same natural order as the 

 acacia, the furze, and the broom. Another, which 

 belongs to the same order as our little wood-sorrel, 

 but, on the contrary, grows to a big tree, is also 

 remarkably sensitive. It is the camrunga-tree of 

 India (Averrhoa carambola). The leaves are pin- 

 nated, or feathered, with alternate leaflets, and an 

 odd one at the end. Their common position in the 

 daytime is horizontal. On being touched they move 

 downwards, frequently in so great a degree that the 

 two opposite leaves almost touch one another by 

 their undersides, and the leaflets sometimes either 

 come into contact, or even pass each other. The 

 whole of the leaflets of one leaf move by striking the 

 branch with the finger-nail, or each leaflet can be 

 moved singly by making an impression which shall- 

 not extend beyond it. Thus the leaflets of one side 

 of the leaf may be made to move one after another, 

 whilst the opposite ones continue as they were, or 

 they may be made to move alternately in any order 

 by merely touching the leaflet intended to be put 

 in motion. After sunset the leaves go to sleep, 

 first moving down so as to touch one another by 

 their undersides ; they, therefore, perform a greater 

 motion at night of themselves than they can be made 

 to do during the day by external impressions. The 



1 Hogg's " Vegetable Kingdom." 



