The Elements of Botany, For Beginners and For SchoolsGray, Asa
Science
The Elements of Botany, For Beginners and For Schools
Gray, Asa
Plants
469. =Leaf-movements= are all but universal. The presentation by most
leaves of their upper surface to the light, from whatever direction that
may come, is an instance; for when turned upside down they twist or bend
round on the stalk to recover this normal position. Leaves, and the
leaflets of compound leaves, change this position at nightfall, or when
the light is withdrawn; they then take what is called their sleeping
posture, resuming the diurnal position when daylight returns. This is
very striking in Locust-trees, in the Sensitive Plant (Fig. 490), and
in Woodsorrel. Young seedlings droop or close their leaves at night in
plants which are not thus affected in the adult foliage. All this is
thought to be a protection against the cold by nocturnal radiation.
470. Various plants climb by a coiling movement of their leaves or their
leaf-stalks. Familiar examples are seen in Clematis, Maurandia,
Tropæolum, and in a Solanum which is much cultivated in greenhouses
(Fig. 172). In the latter, and in other woody plants which climb in this
way, the petioles thicken and harden after they have grasped their
support, thus securing a very firm hold.
471. =Tendril movements.= Tendrils are either leaves or stems (98, 168),
specially developed for climbing purposes. Cobæa is a good example of
partial transformation; some of the leaflets are normal, some of the
same leaf are little tendrils, and some intermediate in character. The
Passion-flowers give good examples of simple stem-tendrils (Fig. 92);
Grape-Vines, of branched ones. Most tendrils make revolving sweeps, like
those of twining stems. Those of some Passion-flowers, in sultry
weather, are apt to move fast enough for the movement actually to be
seen for a part of the circuit, as plainly as that of the second-hand of
a watch. Two herbaceous species, Passiflora gracilis and P. sicyoides
(the first an annual, the second a strong-rooted perennial of the
easiest cultivation), are admirable for illustration both of revolving
movements and of sensitive coiling.
[Illustration: Fig. 490. Piece of stem of Sensitive Plant (Mimosa
pudica), with two leaves, the lower open, the upper in the closed
state.]
472. =Movements under Irritation.= The most familiar case is that of the
Sensitive Plant (Fig. 490). The leaves suddenly take their nocturnal
position when roughly touched or when shocked by a jar. The leaflets
close in pairs, the four outspread partial petioles come closer
together, and the common petiole is depressed. The seat of the movements
is at the base of the leaf-stalk and stalklets. Schrankia, a near
relative of the Sensitive Plant, acts in the same way, but is slower.
These are not anomalous actions, but only extreme manifestations of a
faculty more or less common in foliage. In Locust and Honey-Locusts for
example, repeated jars will slowly produce similar effects.
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