COMMON SENSITIVE FLOWERS. 
43 
on the stem. Its habitat is generally on old walls and it may be 
found in such positions nearly everywhere. Old ruins are 
always a most favorite locality. The male flowers have four sta¬ 
mens which are at first comfortably tucked up under the lobes of 
the calyx or “perianth.” On lifting these stamens slightly with a 
pin, the elasticity of the filaments will cause them to straighten 
suddenly, and at the same time the anthers will burst and scatter 
the pollen so that the flower reminds one of a miniature “jack-in- 
the-box.” Failing the pellitory the common stinging nettles 
{Urticas urens and dioica)—not the dead nettle (Laminin album) 
with its noticeable white flowers —will show the same effect ; a 
male flower being necessarily chosen. In these three plants, 
however, the stamens do not return afterwards to their original 
position as they do in the Barberry, Rock-rose, and Knapweed, 
but the expansion is due to simple elasticity rather than to actual 
automatic movement, of the filaments. 
In many kinds of Musk (. Mimulus ) found in gardens, the 
stigma is sensitive. It forms two lips or lobes, which are gene¬ 
rally open, but these close on being touched, and in this way secure 
possession of any pollen grains that fall on them. One species 
of Mimulus (M. luteus ) has become wild on the sides of many 
streams in England, but these seem to have sometimes lost their 
sensitiveness, as I lately found the case with some specimens 
from a large pond in Studley Park. 
Then again there are many plants such as the Balsams, and the 
common Broom ( Sarothamnus scoparius) in which the elasticity 
of the seed-pods serves to project the seeds to a considerable dis¬ 
tance. The carnivorous propensities of the sundews and butter- 
worts are a study in themselves, but to these Darwin’s book has 
called the attention of all lovers of nature. The same author 
has also dealt with the sensitive properties of tendrils so fully, 
that any other mention of them would be out of place. 
Still there are innumerable other curiosities in the vegetable 
kingdom generally overlooked, although under our very eyes, 
and a small amount of observation given to some of our most 
common weeds, will find an ample reward in the many beauties 
of nature that will be revealed. 
NATURAL HISTORY OF A VOYAGE TO 
BUENOS AYRES. 
By M. Burr. 
On February 21 st, 1891, I sailed in the S.S. “ Wordsworth ” 
from Southampton for Buenos Ayres* 
