Predicting the weather with the help of plants

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Man has been looking for reliableways to predict the weather since time immemorialTo this day, forecasts based on complicated meteorological calculations can be unreliable. Meanwhile, in the past, humans predicted the weather quite accurately, albeit in the short term, by observing the behavior of animals and insects. As it turns out, alsoby observing the plants we can predict weather changesHere are the most interesting weather plants!


The flowers of the pimpernel open in the morning herald a clear day

In the world of plantsone of the most typical reactions to weather changes is closing and opening flowersHere we can use the field pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), which commonly grows on roadsides and wastelands. At night and in cloudy weather, its flowers close. When they are open in the morning, they portend a clear day.
Similarly,about the upcoming rainy day will be informed by the flowersclosed in the morning, Stellaria media, which is a common weed. It blooms from April until late autumn, so it can provide us with valuable information about the weather almost throughout the growing season.

In a similar way, weather changes can be predicted by the calendula (Calendula officinalis), the garden mallow (Alcea rosea) and the wolf (Ipomoea), willingly grown in gardens.When we see the flowers of these plants folding petals on a clear day, we can expect rain soon
Sedum plants react slightly differently to weather changes, allowing usto predict the weather for the next day in the eveningIf.webp their flowers do not curl as usual at night, but open, it will probably be rainy in the morning, and when they close at night it is a harbinger of good weather.


When the marigold folds its petals on a clear day, we can expect rain soon

But before it rains, plants don't just close or open flowers. Often they also curl their leaves. A good example here is the common eagle fern (Pteridium aquilinum), which is common in our forests. It canpredict weather changes up to two days in advanceBefore it rains, its leaves curl upwards, and when it is sunny - downwards. Before the rain, the leaves are also composed of red clover (Trifolium pratense) and hare oxalis (Oxalis acetosella).
Annual plants and perennials inform us of a change in weathernot only by folding flowers or rolling leaves, but also by giving off an intense fragrance.A few hours before the rain, the flowers of the spring flower (Adonis vernalis) and the sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) smell more intensely. Trees and shrubs can also boast an intense scent of flowers, promising rainy weather. The best known example is the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), commonly referred to simply as acacia.Before the rain, its flowers open and emit nectar with a strong smell , attracting bees and other insects from a distance of even several hundred meters. In dry weather, we will not see any insects on this tree. Currants and honeysuckles react similarly to the upcoming weather change.


They will inform us about the coming rain more than the usual fragrant flowers of honeysuckles

Coniferous trees, commonly growing in our forests,- fir, larch and spruce trees are very good meteorologists. In hot weather, their branches are lifted upwards, and before it rains, they fall downwards.
"When foreshadowing rain, plants also emit water droplets frequently. This phenomenon is called crying. Even 2 days before the rainfall, the leaves of the maple and willow trees get wet. A few hours before the rain, black poplars, chestnut trees and bird cherry trees cry.
"The changes in the behavior of plants described above allowto predict the weather in advance from a few hours to even two daysBut with the help of plants, you can forecast the weather even for several months? It turns out that nature suggests this solution as well. And it could be a hit in summer weather forecasters!


When birch leaves turn yellow from their tops in autumn, they herald a short winter and a quick arrival of spring. When the birch trees release their leaves earlier than the alders in spring, we can expect a bright summer

Wellbirch and alder are said to provide reliable long-term forecastsIf the birch leaves earlier than the alder in spring, the summer will be warm and clear.The earlier development of leaves in the alder heralds cool and rainy weather. I admit that I have not known this dependence myself and I have not had the opportunity to confirm it. So in the spring I will make the first observations and we will see what summer will be like.
Birch also allows you to estimate the length of the coming winter and the date of the arrival of spring in autumnBirch leaves turning yellow in autumn from the top herald the early arrival of spring, and if the leaves start to turn yellow from the bottom - winter will drag on and come spring wait a long time for us.
Of course, in this short text we have presented only examples, becausethere are many more plants that can predict the weather. .

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