PLANTS THAT WIGWAG 
is the telegraph plant of Asia. It has its largest leaf at 
the end of the stem and two lesser ones opposite each 
other lower down. These two lesser leaves go through 
strange movements not unlike those made by a sailor 
when he stands out in the rigging of his ship and wigwags 
a message to another ship. Each of these leaves takes one 
position, holds it a moment, takes another, and so on. It 
seems, however, that they are never quite sure that they 
have got their message through, since they keep at it 
without ceasing. 
The large leaf at the end of the stem of the telegraph 
plant goes to sleep at night and hangs down restfully. 
Not so these lesser leaves that are given to exercise. They 
keep on busily through the night as might the second 
hand of a watch ticking off the minutes and hours. The 
cause of this continued activity has long puzzled bota¬ 
nists, who have developed many theories but have failed 
to arrive at an agreement as to its purpose. 
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