comparatively with those in the solution.
Of the twenty leaves in the solution, eleven became inflected within 40
m.; eight of them plainly and three rather doubtfully; but the latter
had at least twenty of their outer tentacles inflected. Owing to the
weakness of the solution, inflection occurred, except in No. 1, much
more slowly than in the previous trials. The condition of the eleven
leaves which were considerably inflected will now be given at stated
intervals, always reckoning from the time of immersion:—
(1) After only 8 m. a large number of tentacles inflected, and after 17
m. all but fifteen; after 2 hrs. all but eight in- [page 159] flected,
or plainly sub-inflected. After 4 hrs. the tentacles began to
re-expand, and such prompt re-expansion is unusual; after 7 hrs. 30 m.
they were almost fully re-expanded.
(2) After 39 m. a large number of tentacles inflected; after 2 hrs. 18
m. all but twenty-five inflected; after 4 hrs. 17 m. all but sixteen
inflected. The leaf remained in this state for many hours.
(3) After 12 m. a considerable amount of inflection; after 4 hrs. all
the tentacles inflected except those of the two outer rows, and the
leaf remained in this state for some time; after 23 hrs. began to
re-expand.
(4) After 40 m. much inflection; after 4 hrs. 13 m. fully half the
tentacles inflected; after 23 hrs. still slightly inflected.
(5) After 40 m. much inflection; after 4 hrs. 22 m. fully half the
tentacles inflected; after 23 hrs. still slightly inflected.
(6) After 40 m. some inflection; after 2 hrs. 18 m. about twenty-eight
outer tentacles inflected; after 5 hrs. 20 m. about a third of the
tentacles inflected; after 8 hrs. much re-expanded.
(7) After 20 m. some inflection; after 2 hrs. a considerable number of
tentacles inflected; after 7 hrs. 45 m. began to re-expand.
(8) After 38 m. twenty-eight tentacles inflected; after 3 hrs. 45 m.
thirty-three inflected, with most of the submarginal tentacles
sub-inflected; continued so for two days, and then partially
re-expanded.
(9) After 38 m. forty-two tentacles inflected; after 3 hrs. 12 m.
sixty-six inflected or sub-inflected; after 6 hrs. 40 m. all but
twenty-four inflected or sub-inflected; after 9 hrs. 40 m. all but
seventeen inflected; after 24 hrs. all but four inflected or
sub-inflected, only a few being closely inflected; after 27 hrs. 40 m.
the blade inflected. The leaf remained in this state for two days, and
then began to re-expand.
(10) After 38 m. twenty-one tentacles inflected; after 3 hrs. 12 m.
forty-six tentacles inflected or sub-inflected; after 6 hrs. 40 m. all
but seventeen inflected, though none closely; after 24 hrs. every
tentacle slightly curved inwards; after 27 hrs. 40 m. blade strongly
inflected, and so continued for two days, and then the tentacles and
blade very slowly re-expanded.
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