Note o — BOOK X.
Reading edition
I have observed that many, if not most Vegetables, do expand their Flowers, Down, &c. in warm, Sun-shiny Weather, and again close them towards Evening, or in Rain, &c. especially at the Beginning of Flowering, when the Seed is young and tender; as is manifest in the Down of Dandelion, and other Downs; and eminently in the Flowers of Pimpernel; the opening and shutting of which, are the Country-Man’s Weather-wiser; whereby Gerard saith, he foretelleth what Weather shall follow the next Day; for saith he, if the Flowers be close shut up, it betokeneth Rain and foul Weather; contrarywise, if they be spread abroad, fair Weather. Ger. Herb. B. 2. c. 183.
Est & alia [arbor in Tylis] similis, foliosior tamen, roseique floris; quem noctu comprimens, aperire incipit Solis exortu, meridie expandit. Incolæ dormiræ eam dicunt. Plin. Nat. Hist. L. 12. c. 11.