Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1877 — Luminous Flowers. [ARTICLE]

Luminous Flowers.

Many flowers, especially those of an orange color, as tke sunflower, marigold and been obeerved to give off light on warm, SHIV eVgßtngs—sometimes in the form of sparks, sometimes in flashes, and again in a steady though feeble glow. Certain species of fungi, particularly those growing in warm, damp and dark places, as iu mines, emit light from all their parts, but chiefly from the young growing shoots. This extrication of light, is probably In part due to the conversion of oxygen into carbonic acid, which is actively carried on, in flowers and in the entire substance of the fungi, and constitutes a sort oi slow combustion. It is said that the daughter of Linnaeus was surprised, while in her garden one sultiy evening in summer, by seeing lhminous radiations proceed from a group of nasturtiums. She afterward observed several repetitions of the phenomenon, in the months of June and Julv, 1762. Dr. Phipson has given an interesting resume of the observations made by different naturalists upon luminous flowers, which we quote at length: “ The Swedish naturalist, Prof. Haggem, perceived one evening a faint flash of light dart repeatedly from a marigold. Surprised at such an uncommon appearance, he resolved to examine it with attention, and, to be assured that it was no deception, be placed a man near him, with orders to make a signal when he observed the light. They both saw it constantly at the same moment. The light was mast brilliant upon marigolds of an orange or flame color, but scarcely visible on pale ones. The flash was frequently seen on the same flower two or three times in quick succession, but more commonly at intervals of several minutes. When several flowers, in tbe same place, emitted this light together, it could be seen at a considerable distance. This phenomenon was remarked in July and August at sonnet, and for half an iiour when the sky was clear; bus, after a rainy day, or when the air was loaded with vapors, nothing of it was to be seen. On the 18th of June, 1857, about ten o’clock in the evening, M. Fries, the well-known Swedish botanist, whilst walking along in the Botanic Garden at Upsal, remarked a group of poppies (Bapaver Orientate) in which three or four flowers emitted little flashes of light. Forewarned as he was by a knowledge that such things had been observed by others, kb could not help believing that he was suffering from an optical illusion. However, the flashes continued showing themselves, from time to time, during three-quarters of an hour. Mr. Fries was thus forced to believe that what he saw was real. The next flay, observing the same phenomenon to recur at about the same hour, be conducted to the place a person entirely ignorant that such a manifestation of light had ever been witnessed in the vegetable world, and, without relating anything concerning it, he brought his companion before the group of poppies. The latter observer was soon in raptures of astonishment and admiration. Many other persons were then led to the same- spot, some of whom immediately remarked that * The flowers were throwing nut flames.’ It is chiefly in the summer months that the emission tof light from flowers is seen, and generally during twilight. It is said, however, that flashes have also been noticed in the morning, just before sunrise. The light emitted is always most brilliant before a thunder-storm.” —Chicago Tribune. —Lucy Hooper says that, a Frenchman will dress better when he intends to suicide than on any other day of his life. Re likes to make things pleasant for Coroners and reoorters. —George Francis Train has abandmed liana-shaking on the ground that ne cannot afford to part with his magnetism, electricity and longevity in any such wasteful way.