Evening Lychnis

Dear Lilliputians , 

Here is another one of those flowers that you might pass by and never know how interesting it really is . This is a flower that really only likes Moths . I bet you didn't know that flowers have likes and dislikes . This flower does not really like Bees or Butterflies to come and visit , and this pretty flower does not like Ants or Flies to come to visit . You see when an insect or bug comes to visit a flower . . . they are coming because . . . can you guess ? Yes , that is correct , most flowers have a wee bit of nectar way down inside the very center of the flower and this nectar is like insect candy .  The Evening Lychnis only wants to share the nectar with Moths . So this flower does not open its petals early every morning like most flowers . . . this flower opens up its petals at night . The reason it opens at night time is because that is when the Moths wake up and go out to get something to eat . Moths aren't usually around during the day . . . that is when they are sleeping . So just as the Moth is getting up the Evening Lychnis is opening its petals . This flower is white so that the Moths can better see it when it is dark . Let me ask you something . . . have you ever smelled a flower ? Some flowers smell so sweet and the Evening Lychnis is one of them . . . but if you walk by it during the day time and you bend down to smell it . . . you will smell very little or nothing at all because this flower only releases its perfume around 8:00 at night untill about 3:00 in the morning when it is still very dark . The smell helps the Moths to find its way to this evening beauty . 

In this photo you are looking into the very center of the flower . Do you see those curly sort of things right in the center ? Those are Stamen . . . they will grow during the first day until they stick out of the flower . . . But by the second day the Stamen curl backwards and lay down on the petals like they are in the photo below . So next time you walk by this flower thinking it is just standing there doing nothing ,  it is really growing Stamen , and hiding its sweet smell . 

One more way the flower fools other insects to think that it has no nectar is it curls up its petals and looks sort of dead . You can see in the photo above that the petals have started to curl up . Another thing that this flower has done  to keep Ants and Flies from taking its nectar is it has grown sticky hair .  Do you see how hairy it is . I think it needs a shave . Also if you look closely you  may see a few bugs that were trying to get to the nectar but couldn't because they got stuck . Remember you can click on the photos to make them bigger .

So tonight as you are going to sleep remember the Evening Lychnis is just waking up . And I just want you to know that even though this flower really only likes Moths . . . it is not an unkind flower . . . It will usually keep its petal from curling up for a few hours every morning in case there is a hungry Bee or Butterfly passing by. If there is any nectar left to sip the Bee or Butterfly are welcome to it . Now remember , if you are outside playing and you see a patch of Evening Lychnis . . . remember it has been up all night feeding hungry Moths so play quietly while it is sleeping .

There is one nature writer that I like because I like the main character of his books . . . Crinkleroot is his name . Here is a quote from Crinkleroot .

“Hello. My name is Crinkleroot. I was born in a tree and raised by bees! I can speak caterpillar, moth, and butterfly, all at the same time. And I know every wild critter in the great outdoors”   

And here is his book Crinkleroot's Guide to knowing Butterflies and Moths by Jim Arnosky . I think you will like the Crinkleroot books too .

Did you know that next week starts National Moth Week ( July 18 - 26 )

Until next time ,

Wildbee