COMBINATION OF PLANTS FOR TELLING THE TIME

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a combination of plants which can very suitably be used to tell the time.

[0002] Such a combination of plants is known per se. In the book entitled "Pflanzenleben" ("Plant Life") published in 1921 (Anton Werner von Marilaun, 3rd edition, Volume 2 (1921), pages 420-422) mention is made of a combination of plants which can be used as a clock. The idea of a "flower clock" appears to have already been expressed and also developed in more detail by Linnaeus, as can be seen from a table on page 421 of the said book. However, it is also clear from the book that although attempts have been made to construct a flower clock, these have been unsuccessful. The main reason mentioned for the failure of such attempts is that only an extremely limited proportion of the various plants which form part of the flower clock bloom in the same season. It is further stated that light and warmth are factors which play a role in the various flowers opening and closing at the right time, but it is also stated that these are certainly not the only factors which are of importance. According to Von Marilaun it then also remains unclear why the flowers of certain plants open and/or close at certain times of day. This is still unclear today.

[0003] It can be seen from the reference described above that Linnaeus worked with all sorts of plants and took no account of annual, terrestrial or water plants, height, climate and composition. The plants named in the Linnaeus list also commonly grow on different substrates, in different environments, in different seasons and even in completely different climates. As has been stated, it was then also found that the flower clock could not be constructed as a unit. The aim of the present invention is to select a combination of plants which can be constructed as a unit and which thus can be used as a "clock".

[0004] In addition to the problems mentioned above, which to date have stood in the way of the composition of a working flower clock, there are also other difficulties which have to be overcome. For instance, the various plants in a working flower clock must not influence one another's flowering behaviour and the plants must be able to tolerate one another well. Moreover, the plants to be combined must all be able to grow in comparable, and preferably in the same, types of soil. The plants must also bloom in the same period of the year under the same climatological conditions. The plants must thus also be able to thrive in the same climate. It is also important that the plants to be used also bloom in the same season after sowing. Furthermore, the plants to be combined must flower prolifically.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to construct a working flower clock, taking the abovementioned problems into account. More particularly, the aim of the invention is to find a combination of plants such that it is possible to tell the approximate time on the basis of the opening and/or closing of the flowers in the various plants present, the plants used tolerating one another well, growing in the same type of soil, thriving in the same climate, blooming in the same period of the year and all flowering prolifically. Of course, the flower clock must preferably also be operative within a fairly usable period of time.

[0006] The invention therefore relates to a combination of plants which is suitable for telling the time on the basis of the opening and/or closing of flowers present in the various plants, which combination comprises at least three, and preferably at least four, of the following plants:

	Plant	Time flower opens
(a)	Nepeta cataria L.	06.00-07.00
(b)	Hieracium aurantiacum L.	07.00-08.00
(c)	One or more of the following plants:
	Petrorhagia prolifera,
	Anagallis arvensis,	08.00
	Potentilla atrosanguinea Rafin	08.00-09.00
	Eschscholzia califomica	08.00-10.00
(d)	Calendula arvensis and/or Hieracium chondraellifolium	09.00
(e)	One or more of the following plants:
	Helichrysum bracteatum,
	Helichrysum annuum,
	Mesembryanthemum crystallinum,
	Spergularia rubra,
	Dorotheanthus gramineus, and
	Legousia speculum-veneris	09.00-10.00
(f)	One or more of the following plants:
	Argemone mexicana,
	Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum, and
	Dimorphoteca pluvialis	10.00-11.00
(g)	Potentilla recta L.	11.00-12.00
(h)	Convolvulus tricolor hybride	12.00
(i)	Portulaca grandiflora and/or Nicandra physalodes	13.00-14.00

[0007] All plant species and taxa named in this application also include all sub-species, varieties and cultivars which have been derived therefrom. All basionyms and synonyms of the said species and taxa according to the international code for botanical nomenclature, as accepted by the thirteenth International Botanical Congress in Sydney in August 1981 (see International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, E.G. Voss et al., Bohn, Scheltema & Holkema, Utrecht/Antwerp, 1983) are also included. The scientific names, synonyms and basionyms of the plants named in this application are listed in Table II, which is incorporated further below in the application.

[0008] Plants (a) to (i) open in the period between 06.00 and 14.00 and are therefore suitable in particular for telling the time within this period. It has been found that outstanding results are obtained when plant (c) is Petrorhagia prolifera, plant (d) is Calendula arvensis, plant (e) is Helichrysum bracteatum and/or Helichrysum annuum, plant (f) is Argemone mexicana and/or plant (i) is Portuiaca grandiflora. To provide an optimum facility for telling the time it is preferable to incorporate all plants (a) to (i) in the combination of plants according to the invention.

[0009] If a longer time span is desired, one or more of the following plants can preferably be added to the combination of three or more of the plants (a) to (i):

	Plant	Time flower opens
(j)	Tragopogon pratense	03.00-05.00
(k)	Cichorium intybus and/or Picris hieracioides	04.00-05.00
(l)	Papaver nudicaule	05.00
(m)	One or more of the following plants:
	Linum usitatissimum,
	Linum narbonense,
	Linum perenne,
	Crepis alpina,
	Taraxacum officinale,
	Rhagadiolus stellatus, and preferably
	Linum usitatissimum	05.00-06.00
(n)	Hieracium umbellatum	06.00
(o)	One or more of the following plants:
	Crepis rubra,
	Hieracium murorum,
	Hieracium pilosella,
	Alyssoides utriculata, and
	Alyssum utriculatum	06.00-07.00
(p)	One or more of the following plants:
	Calendula pluvialis,
	Sonchus lapponicus,
	Leontodon hispidus, and preferably
	Calendula pluvialis	07.00
(q)	Mesembryanthemum linguiforme,
	Mesembryanthemum barbatum, and/or
	Convolvulus tricolor	07.00-08.00
(r)	Mirabilis jalappa L.	16.00
(s)	Silene noctiflora L.	21.00-22.00

[0010] Depending on the desired time span, one or more of the plants (j) to (s) can be added to plants (a) to (i).

[0011] It has been found that the combination of plants according to the invention can be used in particular in regions which have a temperate climate, both in the northern and in the southern hemisphere. This means that the best results are obtained between northern latitudes of 30 ° and 65 ° and between southern latitudes of 20 ° and 50 °, as well as in mountainous areas between these regions in the sub-tropics. In the northern hemisphere the combination of plants can be used as a clock from June to September, whilst in the southern hemisphere the corresponding period is November to February.

[0012] The combination of plants according to the invention can very suitably be supplied as a combination of seeds and/or plant parts which are capable of growing into a complete plant, for example seedlings, of three or more of the plants (a) to (i) and, if desired, one or more of the plants (j) to (s), which combination is able to grow into such a combination of plants. The invention thus also relates to such a combination of seeds and/or plant parts. Said combination of seeds and/or plant parts can be supplied in many forms, in many substrates and in numerous different types of packaging. For instance, the seeds can, for example, very suitably be supplied in a mat made of, for example, paper.

[0013] The invention also relates to a device for telling the time, which device comprises a combination of the plants (a) to (i) and optionally one or more of the plants (j) to (s) or a corresponding combination of seeds and/or seedlings of said plants. A device of this type very suitably comprises a trough containing a substrate containing nutrients, such as earth, glass wool, rock wool, hydrograins or turf, in which the plants or plant parts have been placed or in which the seeds have been sown. Preferably, the plants are arranged in sequence of opening and/or closing. This can be done, for example, in the form of a circle, but, of course, any other shape is also possible. The same applies with regard to seedlings and/or seeds.

[0014] Finally, the invention relates to a method for telling the time making use of a combination of three or more of the plants (a) to (i) and, if desired, one or more of the plants (j) to (s), it being possible to tell the time on the basis of the opening and/or closing of the flowers in the various plants present, with reference to the schedule given in Table I.

Table I

Opening and closing times of the flowers
Time	Plant (flower opens)	Plant (flower closes)
03.00-05.00	Tragopogon pratense
04.00-05.00	Cichorium intybus
	Picris hieracioides
05.00	Papaver nudicaule
05.00-06.00	Linum usitatissimum
	Linum narbonense
	Linum perenne
	Crepis alpina
	Taraxacum officinale
	Rhagadiolus stellatus
06.00	Hieracium umbellatum
06.00-07.00	Crepis rubra
	Hieracium murorum
	Hieracium pilosella
	Alyssoides utriculata
	Alyssum utriculatum
	Nepeta cataria L.
07.00	Calendula pluvialis
	Sonchus lapponicus
	Leontodon hispidus
07.00-08.00	Mesembryanthemum linguiforme
	Mesembryanthemum barbatum
	Convolvulus tricolor
	Hieracium aurantiacum L.
08.00	Petrorhagia prolifera
	Anagallis arvensis
08.00-09.00	Potentilla atrosanguinea Rafm.
08.00-10.00	Eschscholzia califomica	Taraxacum officinale
09.00	Calendula arvensis
	Hieracium chondraellifolium
09.00-10.00	Helichrysum bracteatum	Tragopogon pratense
	Helichrysum annuum
	Mesembryanthemum crystallinum
	Spergularia rubra
	Dorotheanthus gramineus
	Legousia speculum-veneris
10.00		Cichorium intybus
10.00-11.00	Argemone mexicana
	Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum
	Dimorphoteca pluvialis
11.00		Crepis alpina
11.00-12.00	Potentilla recta L.
12.00	Convolvulus tricolor hybride	Calendula arvensis
13.00		Petrorhagia prolifera
13.00-14.00	Portulaca grandiflora
	Nicandra physalodes
14.00		Crepis Rubra
		Hieracium murorum
14.00-16.00		Mesembryanthemum cystallinum
15.00		Mesembryanthemum linguiforme
		Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum
		Hieracium aurantiacum L.
15.00-16.00		Calendula pluvialis
16.00	Mirabilis Jalappa L.	Hieracium pilosella
		Helichrysum bracteatum
		Alyssum utriculatum
17.00		Hieracium umbellatum
from 17.00		Nepeta cataria L.
		Potentilla atrosanguinea
		Rafin
		Potentilla recta L.
17.00-18.00		Dimorphoteca pluvialis
18.00-19.00		Legousiaspeculum-veneris
19.00		Papaver nudicaule
from 19.00		Mirabilis jalappa L.
21.00-22.00	Silene noctiflora L.
22.00-23.00		Silene noctiflora L.

TABLE II

Scientific names, synonyms (Syn.) and Basionyms (Bas.)*
(a)	- Nepeta cataria L.
(b)	- Hieracium aurantiacum L.
(c)	- Petrorhagia prolifera: Petrorhagia prolifera (L.) P.W. Ball & Heywood (Syn.: Dianthus prolifer L.; Bas.: Tunica prolifera Scop.)
	- Anagallis arvensis: Anagallis arvensis L.
	- Eschscholzia californica: Eschscholzia californica Cham.
(d)	- Calendula arvensis: Calendula arvensis L. (Bas.: Calendula arvensis Bicb,; Calendula arvensis Boiss.; Calendula aegyptiaca Desf.; Calendula persica C.A. Mey)
	- Hieracium chondraellifolium: Hieracium chondraellifolium Fries (Bas.: Hieracium chondrilloides Vill,; Hieracium chondrilloidium St. Lager; Crepis jacquini Tausch)
(e)	- Helichrysum bracteatum: Helichrysum bracteatum Andr. (Bas.: Helichrysum bracteatum (Vent.) Wilid)
	- Helichrysum annuum: Helichrysum annuum L.
	- Mesembryanthemum crystallinum: Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (L.) N.E. Br.
	- Spergularia rubra: Spergularia rubra J. & C. Presl. (Syn.: Spergularia rubra (L.) J. & C. Presl.
	- Dorotheanthus gramineus: Dorotheanthus gramineus Schwantes (Bas.: Mesembryanthemum pyropeum Haw.)
	- Legousia speculum-veneris: Legousia speculum-veneris (L.) Chaix (Bas.: Legousia speculum Fisch. ex A.DC.)
(f)	- Argemone mexicana: Argemone mexicana L.
	- Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum: Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum L.
	- Dimorphoteca pluvialis: Dimorphoteca pluvialis Moench
(g)	- Potentilla recta L.
(h)	- Convolvulus tricolor: Convolvulus tricolor L. hybride
(i)	- Portulaca grandiflora: Portulaca grandiflora Hook
	- Nicandra physalodes: Nicandra physalodes Scop.
(j)	- Tragopogon pratense: Tragopogon pratense L.
(k)	- Cichorium intybus: Cichorium intybus L.
	- Picris hieracioides: Picris hieracioides Sibth & Sm. (Bas.: Hieracium spinulosa Bertol. ex Guss.)
(l)	- Papaver nudicaule: Papaver nudicaule L.
(m)	- Linum usitatissimum: Linum usitatissimum L.
	- Linum narbonense: Linum narbonense L.
	- Linum perenne: Linum perenne L.
	- Crepis alpina: Crepis alpina L.
	- Taraxacum officinale: Taraxacum officinale L.
	- Rhagadiolus stellatus: Rhagadiolus stellatus DC. (Bas.: Hyoseris radiata Luce; Leontodon hastilis L.)
(n)	- Hieracium umbellatum: Hieracium umbellatum L.
(o)	- Crepis rubra: Crepis rubra L.
	- Hieracium murorum: Hieracium murorum Froel. (Bas.: Hieracium caesium Fries)
	- Hieracium pilosella: Hieracium piloseila L.
	- Alyssoides utriculata: Alyssoides utriculata (L.) Medicus
	- Alyssum utriculatum: Alyssum utriculatum L.
(p)	- Sonchus lapponicus: Sonchus lapponicus Froel. (Bas.: Lactuca floridana Gaertn.)
	- Leontodon hispidus: Leontodon hispidus L.
(q)	- Mesembryanthemum linguiforme: Mesembryanthemum linguiforme DC (Bas.: Mesembryanthemum longum Haw.)
	- Convolvulus tricolor: Convolvulus tricolor L.
(r)	- Mirabilis jalappa L. (Syn.: Nictago jalappa)
(s)	- Silene noctiflora L. (Syn. and Bas.: Silene Viscida Moench; Nelandrium noctiflorum (L.))

* The table is made up as follows: first the species name followed by a colon, followed by the scientific name followed by, in brackets, any synonyms (Syn.) and/or basionyms (Bas.).

Claims

1. Combination of plants which is suitable for telling the time on the basis of the opening and/or closing of flowers present in the various plants, which combination comprises at least three, of the following plants:

(a) Nepeta cataria L.

(b) Hieracium aurantiacum L.

(c) one or more of the following plants: Petrorhagia prolifera, Anagallis arvensis, Potentilla atrosanguinea Rafin and Eschscholzia californica;

(d) Calendula arvensis and/or Hieracium chondraellifolium

(e) one or more of the following plants: Helichrysum bracteatum, Helichrysum annuum, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, Spergularia rubra, Dorotheanthus gramineus and Legousia speculum-veneris;

(f) one or more of the following plants: Argemone mexicana, Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum and Dimorphoteca pluvialis;

(g) Potentilla recta L.

(h) Convolvulus tricolor hybride; and

(i) Portulaca grandiflora and/or Nicandra physalodes.

2. Combination according to Claim 1, wherein plant (c) is Petrorhagia prolifera.

3. Combination according to Claim I or 2, wherein plant (d) is Calendula arvensis.

4. Combination according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein plant (e) is Helichrysum bracteatum or Helichrysum annuum.

5. Combination according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein plant (f) is Argemone mexicana.

6. Combination according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein plant

(i) is Portulaca grandiflora.

7. Combination according to one or more of Claims 1-6, which also comprises one or more of the following plants:

(j) Tragopogon pratense;

(k) Cichorium intybus and/or Picris hieracioides;

(I) Papaver nudicaule;

(m) one or more of the following plants: Linum usitatissimum, Linum narbonense, Linum perenne, Crepis alpina, Taraxacum officinale and Rhagadiolus stellatus;

(n) Hieracium umbellatum;

(o) one or more of the following plants: Crepis rubra, Hieracium murorum, Hieracium pilosella, Alyssoides utriculata and Alyssum utriculatum;

(p) one or more of the following plants: Calendula pluvialis, Sonchus lapponicus and Leontodon hispidus;

(q) Mesembryanthemum linguiforme, Mesembryanthemum barbatum and/or Convolvulus tricolor;

(r) Mirabilis jalappa L.; and

(s) Silene noctiflora L.

8. Combination of seeds and/or plant parts of three or more of the plants (a) to (i) and, if desired, one or more of the plants (j) to (s), which combination is able to grow into a combination of plants according to one or more of Claims 1-7.

9. Device for telling the time, which device comprises a combination of plants according to one or more of Claims 1-7 or a combination of seeds and/or plant parts according to Claim 8.

10. Method for telling the time making use of a combination of plants according to one or more of Claims 1-7, wherein it is possible to tell the time on the basis of the opening and/or closing of the flowers in the various plants present, in accordance with the schedule in Table I.

Ansprüche

1. Kombination von Pflanzen, die geeignet ist zum Mitteilen der Zeit auf der Grundlage des Öffnens und/oder des Schließens der an den verschiedenen Pflanzen vorhandenen Blüten, wobei die Kombination wenigstens drei der folgenden Pflanzen umfasst:

(a) Nepeta cataria L.

(b) Hieracium aurantiacum L.

(c) eine oder mehrere der folgenden Pflanzen; Petrorhagia prolifera, Anagillis arvensis, Potentilla atrosanguinea Rafin und Eschscholzia californica;

(d) Calendula arvensis und/oder Hieracium chondraellifolium;

(e) eine oder mehrere der folgenden Pflanzen: Helichrysum bracteatum, Helichrysum annuum, Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, Spergularia rubra, Dorontheanthus gramineus und Legousia speculum-veneris;

(f) eine oder mehrere der folgenden; Pflanzen; Argemone mexicana, Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum und Dimorphoteca pluvialis;

(g) Potentilla recta;

(h) Convolvulus tricolor-Hybride; und

(i) Portulaca grandiflora und/oder Nicandra physalodes.

2. Kombination nach Anspruch 1, wobei Pflanze (c) Petrorhagia prolifera ist.

3. Kombination nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei Pflanze (d) Calendula arvensis ist.

4. Kombination nach einem oder mehreren der vorigen Ansprüche, wobei Pflanze (e) Helichrysum bracteatum oder Helichrysum annuum ist.

5. Kombination nach einem oder mehreren der vorigen Ansprüche, wobei Pflanze (f) Argemone mexicana ist.

6. Kombination nach einem oder mehreren der vorigen Ansprüche, wobei Pflanze (i) Portulaca grandiflora ist.

7. Kombination nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche

1 - 6, welche außerdem eine oder mehrere der folgenden Pflanzen umfasst:

(j) Tragopogon pratense;

(k) Cichorium intybus und/oder Picris hieracioides;

(l) Papaver nudicaule;

(m) eine oder mehrere der folgenden Pflanzen; Linum usitatissimum, Linum narbonense, Linum perenne, Crepis alpina, Taraxacum officinale und Rhagodiolus stellatus;

(n) Hieracium umbellatum;

(o) eine oder mehrere der folgenden Pflanzen: Crepis rubra, Hieracium murorum, Hieracium pilosella, Alyssoides utriculata und Alyssum utriculatum;

(p) eine oder mehrere der folgenden Pflanzen: Calendula pluvialis, Sonchus lapponicus und Leontodon hispidus;

(q) Mesembryanthemum tinguiforme, Mesembryanthemum barbatum und/oder Convolvulus tricolor;

(r) Mirabilis jalappa L; und

(s) Silene noctiflora L.

8. Kombination von Samen und/oder Pflanzenteilen von drei oder mehreren der Pflanzen (a) bis (i) und, falls erwünscht, von einer oder mehreren der Pflanzen (j) bis (s), wobei die Kombination in der Lage ist, zu einer Kombination von Pflansen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 - 7 zu wachsen.

9. Vorrichtung zum Mitteilen der Zeit, wobei die Vorrichtung eine Kombination von Pflanzen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 - 7 oder eine Kombination von Samen und/oder Pflanzenteilen nach Anspruch 8 ist.

10. Verfahren zum Mitteilen der Zeit unter Verwendung einer Kombination von Pflanzen nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1 - 7, durch das es möglich ist, die Zeit auf der Grundlage des Öffnens und/oder Schließens der an den verschiedenen Pflanzen vorhandenen Blüten gemäß des Zeitplans in Tabelle 1 anzusagen.

Revendications

1. Combinaison de plantes pouvant être utilisée pour indiquer l'heure sur la base de l'ouverture et/ou de la fermeture de fleurs présente dans les diverses plantes, laquelle combinaison comprend au moins trois des plantes suivantes :

(a) Nepeta cataria L. ;

(b) Hieracium aurantiacum L. ;

(c) Une ou plusieurs des plantes suivantes : Petrorhagia prolifera, Anagallis arvensis, Potentilla atrosanguinea Rafin et Eschscholzia californica ;

(d) Calendula arvensis et/ou Hieracium chrondraellifolium ;

(e) une ou plusieurs des plantes suivantes : Helichrysum bracteatum, Helichrysum annuum, Mesenbryanthemum crystallinum, Spergularia rubra, Darotheanthus gramineus et Legousia speculum-veneris ;

(f) une ou plusieurs des plantes suivantes : Argemone mexicana, Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum et Dimorphoteca pluvialis ;

(g) Potentilla recta L. ;

(h) Convolvulus tricolo hybride et

(i) Portulaca grandiflora et/ou Nicandra physalodes.

2. Combinaison selon la revendication 1, la plante (c) étant la Petrorhagia prolifera.

3. Combinaison selon la revendication 1 ou 2, la plante (d) étant la Calendula arvensis.

4. Combinaison selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, la plante (e) étant l'Helichysum bracteatum ou l'Helichrysum annuum.

5. Combinaison selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, la plante (f) étant l'Argemone mexicana.

6. Combinaison selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, la plante (i) étant la Portulaca grandiflora.

7. Combinaison selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 6, qui comprend également une ou plusieurs des plantes suivantes :

(j) Tragopogon pratense ;

(k) Cichorium intybus et/ou Peris hieracioides ;

(l) Papaver nudicaule ;

(m) une ou plusieurs des plantes suivantes : Linum usitatissimum, Linum narbonense, Linum perenne, Crepis alpina , Taraxacum officinale et Rhagadiolus stellatus ;

(n) Hieracium umbellatum ;

(o) une ou plusieurs des plantes suivantes : Crepis rubra, Hieracium murorum, Hieracium pilosella, Alyssoides utriculata et Alyasum utriculatum ;

(p) une ou plusieurs des plantes suivantes : Calendula pluvialis, Sonchus lapponicus et Leontodon hispidus ;

(q) Mesembrayantremum linguiforme, Mesembryanthemum barbatum et/ou Convolvulus tricolor ;

(r) Mirabilis jalappa L. ; et

(s) Silene noctiflora L.

8. Combinaison de graines et/ou parties de plantes de trois ou plusieurs des plantes (a) à (i) et, si on le souhaite, d'une ou plusieurs des plantes (j) à (s), laquelle combinaison pouvant pousser en combinaison avec des plantes selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 7.

9. Dispositif pour indiquer l'heure, lequel dispositif comprend une combinaison de plantes selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 7 ou une combinaison de graines et/ou parties de plantes selon la revendication 8.

10. Méthode pour indiquer l'heure en utilisant une combinaison de plantes selon une ou plusieurs des revendications 1 à 7, par laquelle il est possible d'indiquer l'heure sur la base de l'ouverture et/ou de la fermeture des fleurs dans les diverses plantes présentes, selon le barème du tableau I.