From wsanford@wsanford.com Wed Jul 7 10:08:27 2004 Date: Sun, 6 Jun 2004 20:41:07 -0400 (EDT) From: Walter Sanford To: Walter Sanford Subject: Linneaus - Horologium Florae (x, 30 MAY 2004) > Buy "Botanical Clock Flower Garden Set" Price: $14.99 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008XO9W/qid=1085357038/sr= 8-3/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i3_xgl60/102-9716020-6952126?v=glance&s=home-garden&n=507846 Editorial Reviews Product Description [courtesy Amazon.com] "Different flowers open at different times throughout the day. During the 18th century, the great Swedish botanist Carl von Linne (Linneaus) proposed a botanical clock in which flowers would mark the hours. It's not accurate, but it is fascinating and fun to grow your own. Our kit comes with everything you need to get started: seeds for seven different plants (including morning glories, marigolds, four o'clocks, and sunflowers), wooden marker stakes, string, instructions, and background information on von Linne's idea, all packaged in a colorful 9" tin." -- INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE [label, bottom of tin] This box [tin] contains seeds of six of the varieties studied by Mr. Linnaeus (Ipomea, Morning Glory, Marigold, Iceplant, Dandelion, and the Four O'Clock). This will start your Botanical Clock. It also contains a bag of Sunflower seeds to sow at the foot of the central stake. Prepare the site of your Botanical Clock by leveling the ground. Draw a circle and put the stake in the center. Place the wooden labels on the circumference of the circle, at the relative hours (3,4,6,7,9 and 10) then connect them to the central stake with pieces of string. Put the name of the plant corresponding to the hour. Sow the seeds at the foot of each label, following the instructions given in this booklet [see picture, shown left]. Sow the sunflower seeds at the foot of the central stake. When the Botanical Clock flowers you will be able to observe the behavior of the varieties throughout day and night, as Carl Linnaeus did. Manufactured by Radis & Capucine. Util / best before December 2005. Ipomea (Ipomea sp.) 0.60 g Morning Glory (Convolvulus tricolor) 0.40 g Marigold (Calendula officinalis "Pacific Beauty" mixed) 0.50 g Iceplant (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis "Livingstone Daisy") 0.10 g Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) 0.10 g Four O'Clock (Mirabilis jala[?o?]pa mixed) 1 g Sunflower (Helianthus annuus "Sunspot") 0.70 g, seeds for non-industrial use. -- [p. 1 of 4, bi-fold pamphlet, inside tin] BOTANICAL CLOCK CARL LINNAEUS' (1707-1778) During the XVIIIth century [18th], Europe was impassioned for science and in particular for the study of plants and animals. Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist, also known as Carl von Linne' or Carolus Linnaeus, is often called the Father of Taxonomy. His system for naming, ranking, and classifying organisms is still in wide use today (with many changes). His ideas on classification have influenced generations of biologists during and after his own lifetime, even those opposed to the philosophical and theoretical roots of his work. In his new classification, each species was defined by a double Latin name that allowed the scientists in the entire world to refer to them unambiguously. This system of binominal classification is the one which we still use today. However, before developing this system, Linnaeus created other systems, including one based on the number of stamens, which did not survive him. He also invented a classification of plants according to the opening hour of their flowers. Its research led him to the development of a vegetable clock: the Botanical Clock. However by observing the plants on a daily basis he realized that this method was not completely reliable: the opening hour of the same flower is influenced by external factors, such as the exposure, sunshine, humidity, wind and location. Linnaeus did not go forward with this system. But the botanical clock was not completely forgotten. Indeed, it shows physiological specificities which exist in plants while offering a beautiful aspect to any garden. Theoretical opening hours of the flowers observed by Linnaeus [left column; * = flowers w/in tin] 0:00 Cactus with large flowers 1:00 Corn Sow Thistle 2:00 Salsify 3:00 Bristly Ox-Tongue 4:00 Hedge Bindweed 5:00 Hawk's Beard 6:00 *Morning Glory 7:00 Water Lily 8:00 Scarlet Pimpernel 9:00 *Field Marigold 10:00 Tricolor Ficoide 11:00 Star-of-Bethlehem 12:00 *Ice-Plant [right column; * = flowers w/in tin] 13:00 Wild Millet 14:00 Golden Hawk's Beard 15:00 *Dandelion 16:00 Sweet Alyssum 17:00 *Four O'Clock 18:00 Geranium 19:00 Day-Lily 20:00 Bearbine 21:00 Night Flowering Jasmin 22:00 Bindweed with Large Flowers 23:00 Night-Flowering Catchfly [p. 2; * = flowers w/in tin] DAY FLOWERS Cactus with large flowers (Cactus grandiflorus): This cactus, originated in South America, only flowers once in its lifetime before dying. One should not miss its flowering which takes place about midnight. Corn sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis): The first flowers open at 1 o'clock in the morning, which does not prevent others to blossom later in the course of the day. It can be seen in wastelands, ditches, fields, gardens, sands and the seaside. 2 - Salsify (Tragopogon porrifolius): It often opens towards 2 o'clock, but the yellow petals can be seen in the middle of the day. The wild form can be seen in fallow fields and meadows. Bristly ox-tongue (Picris echioides): Early riser, it opens its yellow flowerheads long before sunrise. It can be found near the seaside. Bearbine (Convolvulus arvensis): Respectful of Mr. Linnaeus' schedule, it opens its white tint of pink corollas at 4 o'clock. One finds it in slopes, hedges, gardens and fields. Hawk's Beard (Crepis tectorum): This plant displays its yellow flowers at the first gleams of dawn. They remain open all through the day to close again at twilight. It populates meadows, wastelands, cultivated lands, along the edges of paths and slopes. 6 - *Morning Glory (Convolvulus tricolor): It displays its petals around 6 o'clock with the first gleams of the day and closes again at the end of the afternoon, when luminosity starts to decline. 7 - Water lilies (Nuphar lutea): It opens with the first rays of Sun, around 7 o'clock in the morning. Can be found in lakes, small and large ponds. 8 - Scarlet pimpernel (Anagalis arvensis): Discrete, its first flowers open at 8 o'clock. However, the blossomings take place all through the day along with the ripening of floral buds. It populates cultivated fields, gardens and dunes. 9 - *Field marigold (Calendula officinalis): Neither too early nor too late, it opens out around 9 o'clock. Its name in French, stems from the old Provencal word "oesoucide" which means "Sun circle," thus pointing out that it develops its petals when the Sun is already quite visible. Can be found in fields and wastelands. 10 - Tricolor Ficoide (Mesembryanthemum tricolorum): Its flowers only open at full Sun, not before 10 o'clock. They close again at night and do not open on dark days. 11 - Star-of-Bethlehem (Ornithogalium Umbellatum): It is also called in French the Eleven O'Clock Dame. It looks like a small white lily and opens out by the end of the morning when the Sun is high in the sky. It is rare and protected. [p. 3] NIGHT FLOWERS 12 - *Iceplant (Dorotheanthus bellidiformis): Its flowers open when the Sun is at the peak of the zenith. 1 [p.m.] - Wild millet (Dianthus deltoides): The young buds are the first to open, at 1 p.m. Once opened, the flowers remain opened all the time. In its wild state, it is found in wild fields, meadows and wastelands. Golden Hawk's Beard (Crepis aurea): Its flowers blossom in summer, when the Sun is at its highest in the sky, around 2 p.m. It is native to the mountain[s,] particularly in the Alps. 3 - *Dandelion (Taraxacum officinal): For this plant, Linnaeus was not very rigorous. Indeed, the flower of the dandelion opens as the Sun is shining intensely and closes again each evening. However, during bad weather it can remain closed all day. It can be found nearly everywhere, on lawns, in fields and meadows. 4 - Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima): One find[s] it in dry places, in wastelands, in the seaside sand and rocks. 5 - *Four o'clock (Mirabilis japala): It opens in the evening, when the majority of plants are closing. Its red or yellow corollas are splendid and numerous from July 'til the first frosts. Originating in America, it has not its wild equivalent in Europe. Pelargonium: Originating in the Cape Province of South Africa, this geranium opens its scented flowers at the beginning of the evening. It's the only Pelargonium to have odiferous flowers instead of leaves. Day Lily (Hemerocallis): It belongs to the night plants and only opens towards 7 p.m. It can be found on the river banks and in woodlands. Wild species are rare and protected. It is sometimes called the "Perpetual Lily." Bindweed (Convolvulus sp.): This species of bindweed rises earlier than the Hedge Bindweed: it opens out its corollas at the end of the day, when heat decreases. It is found in slopes, hedges, gardens and fields. Bindweed with large flowers (Ipomoea sp.): According to Linnaeus, this plant derived from the bindweed only opens its broad azure blue corollas towards 10 p.m. However, one sees flowers opened out much earlier in the course of the day. It seems that Linnaeus was mistaken. Night-flowering Catchfly (Silene noctiflora): Respectful of the name Mr. Linnaeus gave it, this plant opens its flowers when the others close theirs. This plant is a weed that one sees in fields, wastelands and ditches. [p. 4] The Sunflower has the reputation of following the Sun. Linnaeus did not talk about it because it doesn't really have a schedule: it remains permanently opened from the moment it blossoms until it fades. By planting it in the middle of the clock, it can be used as the hour hand. In fact, the flowers of Sunflower do not really follow the Sun: the morning inflorescence looks towards the Sun, but then it does not follow it any more because it is too heavy to move. On the other hand, the floral buds follow the same curve as the Sun. The Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is easy to cultivate. Sow in the ground at the end of April-May. Thin out when it reaches 50 cm (19.5 in.). Flowering takes place in June. INSTRUCTIONS FOR CULTIVATION Morning glory: Sow in open ground from the end of April 'til June when the ground is sufficiently warm. Water generously during summer and remove the faded flowers to prolong flowering. Ipomea: Sow in open ground from the end of April 'til June when the ground is sufficiently warm. Water generously during summer and remove the faded flowers to prolong flowering. Marigold: Sow from April 'til July. Thin out when it reaches 25 cm (10 in.). Flowers from July to October. Dandelion: Sow in seedbed from March to June. Replant the seedlings when they have 5 or 6 leaves. Mulch from November to March. Four o'clock: Sow in May in open ground and thin out when it reaches 40 cm (15 in.). The flowers blossom from July 'til the first frost. It has to be protected during winter. Iceplant: Sow in pots during March under shelter. Plant in May with 20 cm (8 in.) space in between. Flowering takes place in June. == Flor d'Luna (Moonflower) - by Santana > MOONFLOWER (Ipomoea) http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/flowers/moonflr.html > How to Grow Moonflower http://www.ehow.com/how_2782_grow-moonflower.html > Ipomoea alba http://www.floridata.com/ref/i/ipom_alb.cfm > http://www.collisiondetection.net/mt/archives/000460.html "Back in the 18th century, the Swedish botanist Carolinus Linneaus created the Horologium Florae, or "sundial of plants." It's described on this web site [http://oldcitycapitolhill.org/news_detail.php?news_id=136]: It consisted of flowers that opened or closed at specific times every day. For example, morning glory is appropriately named for its tendency to open in the very early morning. The plants were arranged by the hours that their flowers opened or closed and was laid out like a clock. Linnaeus studied the opening and closing times to design his "sundial of plants." The daylily closes between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Cat's ear opens at 6 a.m. and closes between 4 and 5 p.m. So you see, if you study the habits of enough plants, most hours can be accounted for by such a natural timepiece." > http://src.truman.edu/browse/display.asp?abs_id=202&year=2004 Truman's New Solar Clock Garden: Plants that Tell Time Stacey A. Smith Dr. Steven Carroll, Faculty Mentor Truman State University http://www.truman.edu/ > http://www.gutenberg.net/1/1/8/7/11871/11871-h/11871-h.htm "Many flowers have a regular time of opening and shutting. We have already mentioned the Marigold; the goat's-beard is vulgarly called "John go-to-bed at noon," from its closing at mid-day; and at the Cape of Good Hope there is a "four o'clock flower," because it invariably closes at that time. The common daisy is, however, a readier example, its name being a compound of day's and eyeDay's-eye, in which way, indeed, it is written by Ben Johnson. It regularly shuts after sun-set, to expand again with the morning light. ... Appended to Richard's valuable "Elements," is the Horologium Florae, (timepiece of Flora,) or a table of the hours at which certain plants expand and shut, at Upsal, 60 deg. north latitude. The earliest Meadow Salsafy opens from 3 to 4 A.M.; and closes from 9 to 10 A.M. The latest A.M. is the Mesembryanthemum Modiflorum, (used in the manufacture of Maroquin leather,) which opens 10 to 11 A.M., and closes at 12 P.M. The latest opening P.M. is the Cactus Grandiflorus, 9 to 10 P.M., and closing at 12 P.M., thus remaining open only two or three hours." > Floral Clocks http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ww2/A761825 >> Google search: "floral clock" > How to tell time from your flowers with a floral clock http://www.users.bigpond.com/rdoolan/floral.html Sample flowers: http://www.users.bigpond.com/rdoolan/flower.html ================================================================= Walter Sanford, Director Carl Sandburg Middle School Center for Sky Awareness 8428 Fort Hunt Road Sandburg Planetarium Alexandria, VA 22308 Fairfax County Public Schools Work: 703-799-6169 -6197 (fax) E-mail: wsanford@wsanford.com Home: 703-765-9392 AMS Project ATMOSPHERE Atmospheric Education Resource Agent & Water in the Earth System (WES) Resource Teacher SCSA, Geosystems, & Camp T-Equity - URL: http://www.wsanford.com/ =================================================================