Maranta Timelapse

Maranta timelapse over a period of 24 hours 🙂 It's amazing how much plants move. If you don't pay close attention you might miss it.⠀ ⠀

This movement is called nyctinasty. It happens not only with maranta leuconeura, but other members of 'marantacae' family, commonly known as prayer plants. And this is exactly why they are called prayer plants. Their leaves rise in the evening, resembling hands in prayer, and go back down during the day.⠀ ⠀

Who is responsible for this movement? Phytochrome, a plant pigment that is found in leaves but is not involved in photosynthesis. Phytochrome tells plants if there is enough light that is needed for photosynthesis. If so, the leaves open up. If there isn't, they close.⠀ ⠀

So nightfall causes the leaves to close and daytime to open.⠀ ⠀

Isn't nature amazing? 🙂⠀#mrhouseplant #plants #houseplants