260 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



within an hour. It might be said that certain 

 flowers have a manifest tendency to open or close 

 at, or about a certain time, unless this tendency- 

 is disturbed or thwarted by special interference. 

 Probably this was all that Linnaeus ever intended, 

 and that his design was to indicate that some flowers 

 expanded with the first break of day, others not 

 until noon, and others again in the evening, or during 

 the night. Thus much is undoubtedly true and in 

 this aspect the subject has its interest, sufficient to- 

 demand a brief notice at our hands, although 

 practically of but little scientific value. 



The catalogue, as constructed by Linnaeus 1 would 

 be too long for insertion here, and we shall be 

 content with enumerating the abbreviated list as 

 corroborated by De Candolle, 3 the hours of waking 

 being first stated. 



2 a.m. Purple Convolvulus (Ipomcea purpurea) 

 3-4 a.m. Fior de Notte (Ipomcea nil) 

 „ Great Bindweed (Calystegia septum) 



4-5 a.m. Goatsbeard (Tragopogon pratense) and 

 other Cichoraceas 

 5 a.m. Yellow Arctic Poppy [Papaver nudi- 

 caule) 



1 Linnseus, " Philosophia Botanica," 2nd ed., Vienna, 1783, 



P- 273- 



2 De Candolle, " Physiologie Vegdtale," ii., 484. 



