Introduction
Calathea orbifolia leaves are fascinating to anyone who is a plant lover. This plant’s beautiful leaves a exhibit a beautiful feature known as Nyctinasty; it is a day and night movement of this plant. During the night, the Calathea orbifolia leaves rise and fold up like hands are praying, where during daytime, leaves drop down like when one is done praying. Calathea orbifolia leaves movement is quite prominent; you can notice the difference between day and night.
Causes of Nyctinasty Movement Of Calathea Orbifolia
Nyctinasty is the circadian base rhythmic movements of plants in response to day and night change. A circadian clock is a biochemical oscillator work with change in solar day. Calathea orbifolia is also one of those plants that work with the circadian clock, opening its leaves during the daytime and closing it at night.
Nyctinasty movement varies from plant to plant. For flowers in the daytime, flowers are opened but during night bottom petals of the flowers grow at a faster rate than the upper petals it forcing the upper petals to get closed. But the process in Calathea orbifolia is different. There are a lot of theories behind it.
Some scientists believe Calathea orbifolia closes its leaves at night to save it from freezing, and some believe they are saving themselves from insects at night. Most botanists think that Calathea orbifolia open its leave during the daytime to capture maximum light, whereas at night, it closes its leaves. There is no confirm data that can tell what is primary reason behind it but it can be result of different combinations of these factors.
As far morphology of this process is concerned. The point where Calathea orbifolia leaves and stem met is mostly responsible for the movement of plant. Many people confuse it with leaves drooping, which is a different process.
Scientific Reason Behind Nyctinasty
In terms of scientific process nyctinasty happens because of phototropin. A process known as phototropism is mainly responsible for the nyctinasty. Where phytochrome is a type photoreceptor in plants and microbes that can detect light. The phenomenon of phototropism, or movement of plant toward light was discovered before the discovery of phytochrome. Charles Darwin was the one who wrote about it in his book ‘‘The Power of Plant Movement,’’ published in 1880. Photoropism happens because of a gene product known as phototropin. Indirectly photoropin is responsible for day and night prayer movement of this plant.
Calathea Orbifolia the Prayer Plant
Calathea orbifolia closes its leaves at night and open them during the day. When the leaves close at night, it is like a man is getting his hands up for praying, whereas at the daytime leaves drop; this movement is like when one is done praying in front of God. This is the reason Calathea orbifolia is also known as prayer plant. This day and night movement of the plant is an eye pleasure for plant lovers. Calathea orbifolia leaves curling at night is also because of it.
Calathea orbifolia never cease to amaze. From Calathea orbifolia day and night movement to its beautiful leaves foliage, all are an ecstatic view for the owner of the plant. All you need is to take good care of Calathea orbifolia, to keep your house and surrounding beautiful.