PHENOMENA 01" PLANTS. 
201 
hibit some phenv^mena which are supposed to arise from the state of the atmos- 
phere accurate observers of nature have made remarks upon these changes, aa 
prognosticating certain changes of weather. Lord Bacon, who was remarkably 
attentive to all the appearances and changes of natural objects, is the author of the 
following observations : " Chickweed (Anagallis). — When the flower expands boldly 
and fully, no rain will happen for four hours or upward : if it continues in that 
open state, no rain will disturb the summer's day ; when it half conceals its minia- 
ture flower the day is generally showery ; but if it entirely shuts up or veils the 
white flower with its green mantle, let the traveler put on his great-coat, and the 
plowman, with his beast of draught, expect rest from their labor. Siberian Sow- 
thistle (Souchus). — If the flowers of this plant keep open all night, rain will cer- 
tainly tall the next day. Trefoil {Hedysarum). — The different species of trefoil 
always contract their leaves at the approach of a storm ; hence these plants have 
been termed the husbandman's barometer. African Marygold. — If this plant 
opens not its flowers in the morning about seven o'clock, you may be sure it will 
rain that day, unless it thunders. White thorns and dog-rose bushes. — Wet sum- 
mers are generally attended with an uncommon quantity of seed on these shrubs 
and their unusual fruitfulness is a sign of severe winter." Besides the above 
there are several plants, especially those with compound yellow flowers which 
during the whole day turn their flowers toward the sun, viz., to the east in the 
morning, to the south at noon, and to the west toward evening. This is very ob- 
servable in the sow-thistle, Sonchus arvensis ; and it is a well-known fact that a 
great part of the plants in a serene sky expand their flowers, and as it were, with 
cheerful looks behold the light of the sun ; but before rain they shut them up, aa 
the tulip. The flowers of the cliick-wintergreen [Trientalis) droop in the night, 
lest rain or moisture should injure the fertihzing pollen. One species of wood-sorrel 
shuts up or doubles its leaves before storms and tempests, but in a serene sky ex- 
pands or unfolds them, so that husbandmen can foretell tempests from it. It is 
also well known that the sensitive-plants observe the same rule. 
307. Besides affording prognostics of weather, many plants fold themselves 
up at particular hours, with such regularity as to have acquired names from this 
property. The following are among the more remarkable plants of this descrip- 
tion. GoaC s-heard. — The flowers of two species of Tragofogon open in the morning 
at the approach of the sun, and without regard to the state of the weather, regu- 
larly shut about noon. Hence it is generally known by the name of go-to-bed-at- 
noon. The four-dclock {Mirabilis), sometimes called princess' leaf, is an elegant 
shrub in its native clime, the Malay Islands. It opens its flowers at four in the 
evening, and does not close them till the same hour in the morning. It is said 
people transplant this plant from the woods into their gardens, and use it as a dial 
or clock, especially in cloudy weather. The Evening Primrose {(Enothera) is well 
known from its remarkable property of regularity, shutting with a loud popping 
noise about sunrise, and opening at sunset. After six o'clock these flowers regu- 
larly report the approach of night. The Tamarind-tree, the water-lily {Nymphcea), 
the marygold, the false sensitive-plant, and several others of the Diadelphia class, 
in serene weather expand their leaves in the daytime, and contract them during 
the night. According to some botanists, the tamarind-tree infolds within its leaves 
the flowers or fruit every night, in order to guard them from the cold or rain. 
The flower of the garden lettuce opens at seven o'clock, and shuts at ten. A 
species of aloes, whose large and beautiful flower exhales a strong odor of the 
Vanilla during the time of its expansion which is very short, is cultivated in the 
imperial garden of Paris. It does not blossom until toward the month of July, 
and about five o'clock in the evening, at which time it gradually opens its petals, 
expands them, droops and dies. The Cereus grandiflorus exhibits an exquisitely 
beautiful flower, and emits a highly fragrant odor for a few hours in the night, ancl 
then closes, to expand no more. The flower is nearly a foot in diameter, the inside 
of the calyx of a splendid yellow, and the numerous petals are of a pure white. 
Several species of the Cereus are nocturnal flowers. The flower of the dandelion 
306. Lord Bacon's observations— Plants which turn toward the sun.— 307. Plants which hai {r theli 
t»eads al night and in storms— The go-to-bed-at-noon— The four-o'clock— Evening primros>?— Tama 
rmd-tree, &c.— Aloes— Night-blooming Cereus, &c. 
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