PLANTS THAT PRODUCE LIGHTS 129 
—which lay eggs in the spore-bearing tissues of 
these plants. Thus the plant lights up its house 
for its guests, just as men light their houses at 
night. 
The light produced by fungi is due to phosphor- 
escence. It is commonly found in old wells, caves, 
and especially in mines. Here it produces a most 
weird effect on the observer. The light is steady, 
and constant, never flashy, or glimmering, and is 
usually of a white, green, or blue character. The 
effect produced is not unlike that of moonshine 
lighting up a fairy castle! And so bright is this 
light that one may easily distinguish objects near 
at hand. 
Numbers of the larger flowers, like the sunflower, 
nasturtium, marigold, and tiger lily, emanate a 
phosphorescent glow. ‘The lights given forth by 
these plants are more varied in colour than those 
in the deep caves and mines: some are violet, others 
green, and still others orange or red. 
Many interesting superstitions have arisen re- 
garding the double marigold, whose deep orange- 
coloured flowers give forth on dry, clear evenings 
coruscations of mimic-lightning which plays over 
the petals. : 
“Flowerlight” may easily be seen by any one 
who will but have the patience to wait and watch 
