Pakistan Gardening Forum

ASA,

I came across a report via facebook friend about a flower that blooms in less than a minute during the time of azaan. I believe, this occurs "during" the time of maghrib azaan. The report seems to be authentic as it was from CNN. It is worth watching (very short 1:30 min movie).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgeCCZRaY_Q

I searched a lot about this flower but little information is available, mainly from people challenging the connection. They say it is a common evening primrose and thats what it does at the sunset. It blooms right in front of your eyes like a fast forwarded movie of an ordinary flower blooming.

I haven't seen this flower before or this phenomenon in the first place to see a flower open right infront of the eyes!
Any input or confirmation if anyone else has seen it in reality?

Regards,
Farooq

Although my evening primrose(O.pallida innocence) is blooming for me these days but i am unable to confirm the time at which it opens buds. Technically it should bloom in evening. I will ask my family to keep an eye on it during maghrib and maybe we get to see the show

I have heard moon flower (Ipomoaea alba) opens in a very short period of time but in my soil bed last year it took good ten minutes to open up which is a long time.

I think, its fake otherwise there should be lablled plant name.

Good to know evening primrose exists in Pakistan! Do you know a local name?

You might be missing a show! In another video (without reference to azaan) it is shown to bloom in ~ 5 seconds! Almost instant.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0--WTuQ4HA

@ Kaleem shb, I initially suspected it to be another viral hoax on fb but now it seems to be real story. It is a surprise that it is a "CNN" report and they don't even bother to name the flower.

Extracts from wiki

"The flowers of many species open within less than a minute in the evening". Seems true to me.

It appears that as if flower is strangled by the sepal. As it gives way flower opens up instantly.....

farhan137 wrote:Extracts from wiki

"The flowers of many species open within less than a minute in the evening". Seems true to me.

It appears that as if flower is strangled by the sepal. As it gives way flower opens up instantly.....

I also believe that it is a reality but hopefully Khabbab can tell if they open exactly at maghrib or it is not-so-exact sunset time?

In my opinion Maghirb signifies dimming of intensity of light to certain extent. Therefore when certain "Candela" is reached the flower opens. Experiment can be done with light bulbs also.

farhan137 wrote:In my opinion Maghirb signifies dimming of intensity of light to certain extent. Therefore when certain "Candela" is reached the flower opens. Experiment can be done with light bulbs also.

That is what I was thinking along ... that it must a photo response rather than sound. Still it is amazing. And you remember the "office time" flowers which close around 1 pm. I guess that office time refers to our govt offices :-)

Azaan lasts 5 minutes and adding all the different azaans I think maybe 15 minutes. That is enough time for it to get darker since azaan starts at sunset. This is enough time I guess for any quick opening evening blooming flower to open. However, if it is auditory them subhan'Allah! There are so many signs around us of Allah and His amazing creations that maybe no need to investigate this other than on a scientific level. Maybe Khabbab can play the Azaan on an MP3 player and if the flower opens then try some other sound.

aykhan wrote:Azaan lasts 5 minutes and adding all the different azaans I think maybe 15 minutes. That is enough time for it to get darker since azaan starts at sunset. This is enough time I guess for any quick opening evening blooming flower to open. However, if it is auditory them subhan'Allah! There are so many signs around us of Allah and His amazing creations that maybe no need to investigate this other than on a scientific level. Maybe Khabbab can play the Azaan on an MP3 player and if the flower opens then try some other sound.

So true. I now believe that this plant is just ordinary "evening primrose" that blooms around sunset. If you search evening primrose on youtube (I guess it is still blocked in Pk), it simply blooms in few seconds rather than minutes. And nobody knows more than you that our own body is the most complicated and advanced living laboratory in the world - it is the biggest miracle from Allah in itself. We shouldn't rely on artifacts of non-scientific observations :-)