18709. | Instinct and Reason. 105 
beauty of the meadow oak. Other trees, like the walnut and 
chestnut, present the same peculiarities. 
Plants appear to possess sensibility, and often to a remarkable 
extent. If the well-known sensitive plant be touched never so 
lightly, if but a breath blow upon it, its flowers and leaves close; 
and some time elapses ere it dares to expand them again, as if it 
knew the danger threatening it. If only a sister leaf be touched 
the rest close as if out of sympathy. 
Drugs exert their peculiar influence upon plants as upon the 
higher animals. Spirits of ammonia, if applied too strong, will 
be fatal; opium puts the plant as effectually to sleep as it does 
man ; prussic acid is also destructive ; electricity exerts here its 
peculiar and wonderful effect. 
In plants, as in animals, we sometimes observe what is termed 
“suspended animation.” This phenomenon is well instanced in 
the “ resurrection plant,” generally known as the Rose of Jericho. 
It is found in Arabia, near the shores of the sea, to all appear- 
ances a mass of dry, dead vegetable fibre. But when sufficient 
moisture is supplied, it revives, its leaves expand, it is clothed in 
new verdure, and as it blossoms unfold, the reanimated plant is. 
clothed in all its former beauty. No wonder is it that the Rose 
of Jericho should be almost adored by the simple people among 
whom it is found? 
The Sleep of Plants—When night approaches, flowers close 
their petals, and thus at rest, only wake when the sun once more 
ushers in the day. DeCandolle, as did Linnzeus before him, made 
many experiments with plants in this particular. At night, plants 
were exposed to a bright light, and during the day were placed in 
a darkened room. After some irregularities, the change of con- 
ditions was finally adopted by the plants, and in the lighted room 
they would blossom, and close their petals and leaves in the dark- 
ened one. 
Some plants, however, only flower at night. The beautiful 
Yuccas, a species of wild lily, only blossom when the moon is 
out. The night blooming cereus only blooms as its name indi- 
cates. Hence the time, as well as the season and the climate, etc., 
seem to be elements of importance in the flowering of plants. 
These conditions may be slightly varied, as seen above. 
1 Vid. “ Wonders of Vegetable World.” Scherl De Vere. 
2 Ibid. 
3 Ibid. 
