The representative., 1895-10-09
If the peasantry. It's flowers are said to


be nearly 6 inches across.
The common field clover closes both
its flowers and its leaves by sundown,
two leaves folding together, the third
carefully closing over them.
Tulips are SO sensitive to the light that
during a cloudy day they will often close
their petals and remain shut up until a
return of sunlight.
The largest flower known is the Victo-
ria Regia. Specimens have been seen 6
feet in diameter and able to support the
weight of man of average size.
Every flower that has perfume at all
secretes a volatile oil, the evaporation Of
which constitutes the peculiar odor char
acteristic of the blossom.
There Is an herb growink on Mount
LibanuS and in the surrounding country
which is said to stain a bright yellow
the teeth of all animals that feed upon it,
The sundew is an insectivorous flower,
attracting it's prey by globules of viscous
matter, and holding fast the captured in
/ sect by drawing it's petals over the body.
The smallest flower known to the bot
anist Is said to be that of the yeast plant.
1t is microscopic in size, and is said to
be only one-hundredth of millimeter in
diameter.
The carthamine flower has for thou
sands of years been used to dye fabrics
of yellow color. The mummy cloths
found in Egyptian coffins are dyed yell
low with this flower
The rose of Jericho is also called the
resurrection plant from the fact that af-
ter being apparently dead and dried it
may be revived and made to bloom by
placing it in a bowl of water
The night-blooming cereus blossoms
q hnJ on hon hnf mid iohf h,,t hx{ y
approach of daylight the flower is
complete wreck, having lost all it's beauty
and fragrance.
The fourpodded lotus, in an exposed
situation, makes a cover for it's flower
by drawing one or more of the leaves
over the blossom and keeping them there
during the heat of the day.
The pure white lotus is the royal flower
of Siam and is always borne before the
king in state PROFESSIONS For a subject
to carry one or have one carried before
him is high treason.
According to the poetical idea of Catul-
lus the rose was once white, but blushed
red and remained so out of shame for
allowing its thorns to inflict a wound on
the feet of Venus.
Lilies of the valley in France are call
ed virgins tears and are said to have
y
and Jerusalem during the night following
the crucifixion.
The white lotus, supposed by many per-
sons to be the ''lily of the field" referred
| to by Christ in one of his discourses, is a
| day bloomer but appears to dislike the
| light and heat of the sun. 1t draws it's
| leaves over the blossom to protect the
| latter during the hottest hours of the
| day.
The sunf1ower takes its name from it's
| shape and general resemblance to the
sun. It is not true heliotrope. 1t does
| not turn toward the sun, in spite of the
| poetic assertion of Moore.
| In floral mythology red flowers are sup
| posed to be derived from sacred blood !;
| thus the red anemone is said to have
| originated from the drops of blood which
| fell from Christ's wounds.
The dandelion protects itself from in
| tense heat by drawing it's petals together
| and thus presenting a small surface to
| the light of the sun. When growing in a
| shady place it does not exhibit this pecu-
! liarity.
The honey of the snapdragon cannot be
extracted by the common bee, which has
not weight enough to pull down the lower
| jaw of this curious flower; only the hum
| BILE bee has access to the interior.
The German heath according to the
| popular legend of that country, was dyed
| red by the blood of unbelievers shed dur
ing Charlemagne's violent efforts to con-
vert the whole German nation at once.
The morning glory is singularly sensi-
tive to heat. 1t opens about daylight, and
in warm day will close in three or four
| hours; but should the day be cloudy or
cool 1t will sometimes remain open until
late in the evening.
| The heliOtrOpe takes its name from two
Greek words signifying ''to turn toward
the sum-" There are several overs of this
family, which, during the day, turn their
faces to follow the course of the SUM-
The night-blooming jessamine shows no
social charm through the day, but at the
APPROACH of evening its little candle-shaped
flowers present picture of singular beau
| ty, while they fill the whole air with
their fragrance.
| In Syria, near Damascus, there is said
to grow humming bird plant, the flower
of which bears a close resemblance to a
humming bird. The breast is red, the
wings are dark green, the back yellow
the head and tail a blush black.
In the neighborhood of Shanghai, Chi
ma. there grows a herb known as the
laughing plant the flowers and seeds of
which when eaten are said to cause the
same effect as that reduced by the laugh
ing gas sometimes used by dentists.
One of the most singular peculiarities
of the floral world is the evening prim-
rose, which opens about o'clock D. m
with an explosion not very loud nor for
midable, but still quite perceptible to
any one who is Watching the bud. 1t
remains open all night.
The mountain daisy is so sensitive to
light, or, rather to the lack of it, that
during the assage of a cloud it will close
it's petals. When closed it is exceedingly
inconspicuous, it's flower appearing like
small green bulb or curled up leaf.
The Virginia spider-wort is apparently
unable to endure a high temperature
During the day it is wilted and detected
| as the evening comes on it revives all
it's Aledres< assume lively appearance
and the plant appears to flourish and
enjoy its life until the morning light
again returns.
Several species of the rhododendrons
have the singular popularity of produc-
ing a poisonous honey. Chemists have
repeatedly examined the flower, but have
not detected the poisonous principle
which appears to be only developed after
! the bees have manufactured the juices oil
the flower into honey.
Several specimens of water lilies have
the veryl curious popularity of blooming
all day, and at evening closing their bios
SONS, and, by retracting the stem, draw
ing the flower entirely under water
There is no more singular fact in the
history Of flowers than this oddity of the