478 



THE UNIVERSE. 



less apparent. Every night, as we have said, the lids of 

 their pitchers close while the water is distilled inside, and 

 in the morning the A^ase opens spontaneously as if to offer 

 itself to the traveller. 



In a host of flowers the stamens and pistils at the time 

 of fecmidation are visibly agitated, bending one towards 

 the other in order to accomplish their task. In some, 

 such as the Cacti and the inqjerial fritillary {FritiUaria 

 imperialis, Linn.), it is the stamens that are affected with 

 this unwonted mobility; in others, which is the rarer case, 

 the pistils lean towards the other sex, as is noticed in the 

 flowers of the NigelliK and the Passiflorse. 



There are certain Nymphcce which during the day 



252. The Oscillating Desmodia — Cf smodia oscillans. 



exi:>and their flowers on the tranquil surface of some river, 

 and at night sleep in its depths. 



To these spontaneous acts must be added accidental 

 irritations, from the action of which the organs strive so 

 energetically to escape. We have seen with Avhat extra- 

 ordinary rapidity the sensitive plant shrinks from the 

 least injury. The shock is so great that the whole plant 



