Natuml History, — Botany- 
Lamouroux also maintains its vegetable nature, and describes it 
as a species of his genus Spongodium; and Schweigger proves, 
by numerous observations, its vegetable nature, and advises it 
to be placed between the genera Fuciis and Conferva. 
37. Nocturnal Fragrance qf‘ different Plants. — 1-he pecu- 
liarity of plants whicfi emit their aroma in the evening, has 
occupied so much the attention of botanists, and has given rise 
to so much discussion, that any novelty on the subject is not pei- 
haps to be expected. Mr Johnson, Hill-Top, near Wether- 
by, has remarked, that the evening primrose (CEnothera hien^ 
nis ) an indigenous plant, which grows plentifully on some 
parts of the western shores of this island, particularly in Lanca- 
shire, and some of the counties of the principality, exemplifies 
this singularity. On a rampant and luxuriant plant, which he 
liad in a large pot during the last summer, he made many ob- 
servations. For an hour or more before sunset, he noticed that 
the flowers appeared just ready to burst, and that soon after the 
twilight commenced, they opened most rapidly, and sometimes 
with a motion or jerk, extremely distinct. The delicate odour 
was faintly perceptible, as soon as the petals were fully expand- 
ed, but became much more pungent, when the evening was farther 
advanced, and then at intervals could scarcely be perceived, 
but was soon emitted again additionally powerful. 1 he (Em- 
ihera purmla-, and the beautiful Brazilian GL. hn^lflora, have 
both the same property of expanding their flowers in the even- 
ing, but on these he has not made any particular observations. 
The beautiful and delicate tuberose, (Polianthes iuberosa), so 
much prized for its elegant flowers and charming fragrance, 
may also be adduced as an example of the subject under con- 
sideration. Mr Johnson had, last July, a fine plant, about 
five feet in height, in blossom, in a room, which he observed 
emitted its eflluvium most strongly after sunset. One sultry 
evening, after thunder, (it is believed the 16th July, on which 
day the thermometer stood at 81° in the shade,) when the at- 
mosphere was evidently highly charged with the electric fluid, 
Mr Johnson was surprised at seeing small sparks, or scintillations 
of a lurid flame colour, darted with apparently excessive rapidity 
and momentum, from two or three of the expanded flowerS;^ j 
which were beginning to fade, and at the same time the odour 
i: e ft 
