Clover often folds its leaves at night and raises them again once morning light returns.

The longer version

Nightly leaf movement, sometimes called sleep movement, follows an internal clock rather than simply reacting to darkness. Leaflets drop and fold in the evening and lift again before dawn, and the rhythm continues for a while even if the plant is kept in constant light.

The motion comes from changes in water pressure in a joint at the base of each leaf. Folding reduces the exposed surface overnight, which may limit heat loss and cut condensation. A plant disturbed or heavily shaded during the day can also fold for a short time. The same joint mechanism appears in relatives that fold their leaflets under strong sun.

Where this entry sits

Plants and Trees gathers ordinary and surprising details about how green things live, from the tallest forest giants down to the moss on a garden wall. Expect notes on flowers, seeds, roots, leaves, fungi, and the quiet tricks plants use to spread and survive. The full list sits on the Plants and Trees page, where every entry is listed in order.