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Why do some flowers close up at night but others stay open?
Leslie Wilson
Reading, Berkshire, UK
The timing of the opening of flowers often relates to the pollinators they hope to attract.
Bees and hoverflies largely go to bed early, in my garden at least. However, some flowers are set up to attract night-flying moths. They are often pale in colour and if I stroll in the garden at twilight, I see that they look more noticeable at that time of day.
In particular, I am thinking about dame’s violet or night-scented stocks, both of which release scent at…
