Wednesday 14 October 2020

nyctinasty

Having unfortunately nothing to do with the tenacity of New Yorkers, the above vocabulary word stems from the Greek νυκτ-, nùx for night and the rhythmic, natic movements (see also) that some plants make in response to stimulus—generally light—and is colloquially referred to as plant sleeping. Most apparent in flowers closing at dusk, only a few species have the ability to reopen and fold their petals (like the pictured red tulip) and ones (the majority) that don’t demonstrate nyctinasty are called sleepless.