"Nyctinasty (nyc = night or darkness, nastic = firm or pressed close) is the specific movement of leaves or flowers in a daily pattern, open during the day and closed at night. Nyctinastic movements are accomplished by the flow of water in and out of specific cells in the pulvini (swellings, singular is pulvinus) at the base of the petioles (the stalk that attaches the leaf blade to the stem). It is not unlike our muscle movements in that there is an extensor and a flexor pair. When K+ and Cl- are pumped into the extensor cells on the bottom of the pulvini, they become hypertonic and water follows the ions through osmosis. This causes the extensor cells to swell due to increased turgor pressure." - http://biologicalexceptions.blogspot.com/2011/11/plants-that-dont-sleep-will-take-dirt.html "A pulvinus is also sometimes called a geniculum." - https://www.boundless.com/biology/definition/pulvini/

Just beautiful. And what an accomplishment to get flowers from plants you grew from seed.

Hi everyone and thank you for the info on attaching pictures and to Heather for identifying the tree in my first posting. I have surfed the web with the botanical name stated by Heather and the tree is indeed Radermacheria sinica 'China Doll'. It really never occured to me that it could be a 'house plant' turning into this stunning tree when planted outside. Thanks again. Lisa

"Roses don't read" Haha, love that! so funny and so true. Reminds me of taking a bioethics course where "the" four types of doctor-patient relationships with regard to patient autonomy were discussed: there were paternalistic doctors, counselor doctors, information doctors, and rational discussion doctors. In Canada, we were told, the informative and counselor model had won the debate. Great! So nice to learn! I should note that I'd never gone to the doctor for anything more complicated than antibiotics and such, at that point. I remember being so *shocked* when my husband needed surgery and found that enough surgeons were just like, "don't ask any questions, I'm the doctor, here's your appointment." Had they not read Emanuel and Emanuel, 1992??? :)