286 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



cut from this bush, with their ends standing in water, 

 or wholly immersed in it, or kept in damp air, under 

 a bell glass, opened their leaves though exposed to a 

 blazing sun, whilst those on the plant in the ground 

 remained closed. The leaves on this same plant 

 after some heavy rain, remained open for two days ; 

 they then became half closed during two days, and 

 after an additional day were quite closed. This plant 

 was now copiously watered, and on the following 

 morning the leaflets were fully expanded. The other 

 plant, growing in a pot, after having been exposed to 

 heavy rain, was placed before a window, with its 

 leaflets open, and they remained so during the day- 

 time for forty-eight hours, but after an additional day 

 were half closed. The plant was then watered, and 

 the leaflets on the two following days remained open. 

 On the third day they were again half closed, but on 

 being again watered remained open during the two 

 next days. From these facts we may conclude that 

 the plant soon feels the want of water, and that as 

 soon as this occurs, it partially or quite closes its 

 leaflets, which in their then imbricated condition 

 expose a small surface to evaporation. It is probable 

 that this sleep-like movement, which occurs only 

 when the ground is dry, is an adaptation against the 

 loss of moisture." 1 



1 " The Movements of Plants," p. 337. 



