The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1896-03-19
In the Garden.
Prom the MlnneapolIs aanette.

From the Minneapolis Gazette.
The sunfiower takes its name from its
shape and general resemblance to the
sun. 1t is not a true heliotrope II
does not turn toward the sun, in spite
of the poetic assertion of Moore.
The German heath, according to the
popular legend Of that country, was
dyed red by the blood Of unbelievers
SIZED during Charlemagne's violent
efforts to convert the whole German
nation at once.
The heliotropo takes Its name from
two Greek words signifying Ito turn
toward the sun" There are several
flowers Of this family. which, during
the day, turn their faces to follow the
course of the sun.
The dandelion protects itself from
intense heat by drawing its petals to-
gether and thus presenting a small
surface to the light of the sun. When
growing in a shady place it does not
exhibit this popularity.
The night blooming jessamine shows
no special charm through the day, but
at the approach of evening its little
candle-shaped flowers present a picture
of singular beauty, while they fill the
whole air with their, fragrance.
The morning glory is singularly SEN
sitive to heat. IL opens about daylight,
and in a warm day will close in three
or four hours but should the day be
cloudy or cool it will sometimes re-
main open until late in the evening.
In the neighborhood Of Shanghai,
china, there grows an herb known as
the laughing plant, the flowers and
seeds Of which when eaten are said to
cause the same effect as that produced
by the laughing gas some times used
by dentists.
The mountain daisy is so sensitive to
light. or, rather to a lack of it, that
during the passage of a cloud it will
close its petals. When closed it is
exceedingly inconspicuous, its flower
appearing like a small green bulb OF
curled up leaf.
In Syria, near Damascus, there is
said to grow a humming bird plant,
the flower Of which bears a close re-
selnblance to a humming bird. The
breast is red, the wings are a dark
green, the back yellow, the head and
tail a BLUSH black.
One of the most singular pecularities
of the floral world is the evening prim.
rose, which opens about 6 o'clock p. IN.
with an explosion not very loud MOI
formidable. but still quite p~erceptiblt
t to any II who is watching the bud.
1t remains open all night.
Several specimens of water lilies have
the very curious popularity Of bloom
ing all day, and at evening closing
r their blossoms, and, by retracting thu
C stem, drawing the flower entirely unde,
y water. There is no more singular fac
in the history of flowers than thi
oddly Of the water lily.
T. The Virginia spider-wort is ap
y parently unable to endure a high TEN
perature. During the day it wilte'
"a and detected as the evening comes o.
it r~evives, all its leaves assume a livel
is appearance, and the plant appears t
N flourish and enjoy its life until tn
', morning light again returns.
" Several species Of the rhododendron
-, have the singular popularity of pre-
~ ducing a poisonous honey. Chemist
:. have repeatedly examined the flower
N but have not detected the poisonou
principle, which, appears to be onl
developed after the bees have manr
featured the juices Of the flower int
honey.