THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 3G5 



seem to brave the heat of the sun. Finally, m September, 

 the colchicum scatters its purplish flowers all over our 

 meadows, and announces the return of winter. It is the 

 plant which, according to Linnseus, gives the signal of 

 repose to the botanist. 



The hour at which each flower opens is itself so uni- 

 form, that by watching them, floral clocks of sufficient 

 accuracy can be arranged. 



Father Kircher had dreamed of it, but vaguely and 

 without pointing out anything; it is to Linngeus that we 

 must ascribe the ingenious idea of indicating all the hours 

 by the time at which plants open or shut their corollas. 

 The Swedish botanist had created a flower-clock for the 

 climate which he inhabited, but as, in our latitudes, a 

 more brilliant and radiant dawn makes the floAvers earlier, 

 Lamarck was obliged to construct for France another clock^ 

 which is a little in advance of that at Upsala.^ 



1 FLOWEE-CLOCK. 



H0UI3 at which the Flowers open. pi^.^^^^ ^^ ^^;^,^ |.j,^ Observations were made. 



Morning. 



3 to 5 o'clock, Tragopogon pratense (yellow goatsbeard or salsify). 



4 to 5 „ Cichorium iutybus (chicory). 



5 „ Sonchiis oleraceus (sow-thistle). 



5 to 6 „ Leontodou Taraxacum (dandelion). 



6 „ Hieracium umbellatum (umbellate hawkweed). 



6 to 7 ,, Hieracium murorum (wall hawkweed). 



7 „ Lactuca sativa (lettuce). 



7 ., Nymphfea alba (white water-lily). 



7 to 8 „ Mesembryauthemum barbatum. 



8 „ Anagallis arvensis (field pimpernel or poor man's 



weather-glaas). 



9 „ Calendula arvensis (field marigold). 

 9 to 10 „ Mesembryanthenium cr3'stallinum. 



10 to 11 „ Mesembryanthemum uodiflorum. 



Evening;. 



5 o'clock, Nyctago hortensis. 



6 „ Geranium triste. 

 6 „ Silene noctiflora. 



9 to 10 o'clock, Cactus grandiflorus. 



