212 



OPENING OF THE PASSAGE TO THK INTEUIOH OK THE Fl.OWEK. 



be readily followed, and lasts barel)' two iiuniitoa. Still more vapid is the ojn>iiiii,r 

 of the Evening rrimrose {(Enothcra grandijlora). The petals spring apai't quito 

 suddenly and stretcli themselves out witliin half a minute. If over tlie t.onu 

 " bursting open " applies to a llower-bud, it does so here. In several tropioiU 

 Orcliids, also, the parts separate quickly enough for the movements to be remlily 

 \isible. Thus, in the beautiful Stanhopea tiiiriva, the whole proeess only ocoupies 

 three minutes. It is worth mentioning, that durhig the opening of this flower, a 

 distiueti noise is heai-d, not unlike the report caused by the bui-sting of the iuiliitiul 

 ealyx of the Bladder-campion. 



There are llowers which open so early in the morning that tliey greet the first 

 rays of the rising sun with fully expanded oonillas. That conmiou garden cliinboi', 

 Ijioinwa pHvpiiira, opens its buds at 4 a.m. Wild Ivoses, also, open between 4 miil 

 5 a.m. lietween 5 and 6 many species of Flax (Linuvi peiriiiie and Auj^lriamm) 

 open. Between 6 and 7, Willow-herbs {EpUohlum am)iu>tifoliu,vi and coUivnm), 

 between 7 and 8, Convolvulus arventfis and tricolor. Between 8 luul !1, many 

 Gentians, Speedwells, and Wood-sorrels, ami the frequently-cultivated lliiualayiui 

 Cinquefoil (rotriUUIa atrot:au(jui.i>ea). Between !t and 10 most Tulips and Opuutiaa 

 open; between 10 and 11, the Centaury (/<Jnjthnf<>) and ChatlNveed {Cciitunmilus), 

 Between 11 and \2, 1'otentilla recta. From noon till evening comes a long interval. 

 No plant is known in our latitude which, under ordinary cirt'innstances, opoiia 

 during the afternoon. Towards sunset, liowe\or, it roconnuonces. About 6 p,m, 

 the Honeysuckle opens, shortly followed by the Evening Trimrose aiul Campion, 

 Between 7 and 8 p.m. Hesperis matronalis and tridi^, the Maa-vol of Peru (il//rii- 

 hUlu Jalapa), a few Catchflies {Sileiie noctijlora a.nd vcspcrtina) and several Tliorn- 

 a.ppU's (Datura Stramoniuvi). Between 8 and !) more Catchllies (Silciie lovi)ljUmi, 

 k^axlfraija, VaJlcnia), a Wootlrutf (AsprriiJa i/loiiicraJa), and a species of Tobacco 

 (Nicotiana ajffinis). Between 9 and 10, the Queen of the Night (Vercus nyoticahn, 

 reju-esented on Plate VII. opposite page ()42, vol. i.) opens. 



As it is with the commencement, so is it with the end of flowering; each hiqipcnis 

 at a dolinite time, and every flower endures fitr a determinate period. Flowers 

 which are only open for a single day are tormeil eiiliciiieral flowers. The annexed 

 table shows the hours of opening and closing of a series of e)ilienieral lUnvers. 



Name of Plant. 



Allionia viohtmi 



Hofmrria violarctt 



Oistus Creticus 



'I'riiilrsfdiitia V irij Inicii 



Iris areiutria 



Ileiiii'roottllix fulmi 



Ooii-iiolaidits tricolor 



Oxalis striata 



Ililyiniuis Trioimni 



Krodium Ciaut<tri.iim 



NAMM liK I'l.ANT. 



J'orliiliU'ii ijniiiiiijlora 



Oalaiuiriiiia com/ircssa ... 



Drosfyra loiii/ifolia 



A renaria riilmi 



Porliiliiaa olcnnwa 



Sperijidii iinviiai.i 



iSiai/riiwhiiim, aih'c/m 



Miridiilin loiiJ/i/torti 



di'reiis grioiiiijtorim 



Vnroiis w/vtii'idiiK 



!) 

 10 

 10 

 11 

 11 

 11 

 12 

 8 

 1) 

 -10 



