SerpApi.Org
People tend to fall into two categories once the sun goes down: It's either their cue to get the party started, or it's time to curl up and call it a night. Many of the prettiest flowers in the world that you might have growing in your garden also have an evening routine of their own. Some have blooms that stay wide open regardless of the sun's position in the sky, while others close up their petals until the next day. If you see the latter, you're witnessing nyctinasty.
Merriam-Webster defines nyctinasty as "plant movement that occurs in response to changes in light intensity." They aren't sleeping or being dramatic or lazy at all. There seems to be an actual strategy behind the process. Although no one knows for sure why some flowers do this, it's easy to see the logic behind some of the theories.
Nyctinasty is a plant's internal circadian clock that responds to light and temperature. Some people think it's a survival mechanism, though a wrinkle here is that most plants do not exhibit nyctinasty, as noted in "The functions of foliar nyctinasty: a review and hypothesis," published in Biological Reviews. Others theorize that when petals close at night, the flower protects its pollen from moisture so that there remains a larger supply for daytime pollinators.
Read more: Forgetting To Divide These 24 Perennial Plants In Spring Is A Mistake
Benefits of flowers that close after dark
Perhaps you assume flowers that close every night are less showy than those that stay open around the clock. But this daily routine actually has several advantages for both the plant and the pollinators it depends on to thrive, as explained in the floral industry magazine Thursd.
Nyctinasty could help a flower maximize its successful pollination odds by maintaining a more predictable environment. A flower that uses nyctinasty is able to conserve important resources by timing its blooms to open and close. By closing their petals at night, these flowers can shield their pollen from the elements. Then, when they open up their blooms during daytime hours — or when beneficial pollinators are likely to stop by — these plants end up focusing their energy to when it matters most (for their survival).
There are various pretty flowers that have this daily routine. Crocuses close their bright petals at night or when the skies are cloudy, for example. Even showier flowers like tulips and hibiscus close up shop just as the sun sets.
But flowers aren't the only ones that experience nyctinasty. Trees like magnolias, as well as shrubs like rose of Sharon, also take a break once nighttime approaches. With all this said, if you want to fill your garden with plants that don't exhibit nyctinasty and actually get the party started when the sun goes down, know that there are plenty of stunning plants that bloom at night, too.
Enjoyed this article? Get expert home tips, DIY guides, and design inspiration by signing up to the House Digest newsletter and adding us as a preferred search source!
Read the original article on House Digest.
