Physical Basis of Flower-opening in Pharbitis nil

Flower buds of Pharbitis nil cut from plants growing in thefield open rapidly when subjected to darkness (20–25°C)or low temperature (20°C) in light. Petals of the buds arethe sites of photo- and thermo-perception; flower-opening iscaused mainly by the epinasty of petal midribs. ¹Dedicated to Professor Dr. Erwin Bunning on the occasion ofhis 75th birthday. (Received October 23, 1980; Accepted December 15, 1980)