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.
