The Movements and Habits of Climbing PlantsDarwin, Charles
Science
The Movements and Habits of Climbing Plants
Darwin, Charles
Climbing plants; Geotropism; Plants; Plants -- Irritability and movements
_Stephanotis floribunda_ (Asclepiadaceæ) moves against the sun and made a
circle in 6 hrs. 40 m., a second circle in about 9 hrs.
_Hoya carnosa_ (Asclepiadaceæ) made several circles in from 16 hrs. to 22
hrs. or 24 hrs.
_Ipomæa purpurea_ (Convolvulaceæ) moves against the sun. Plant placed in
room with lateral light.
1st circle was made in 2 hrs. 42 Semicircle, from the light in 1
m. hr. 14 m., to the light 1 hr. 28
m.: difference 14 m.
2nd circle was made in 2 hrs. 47 Semicircle, from the light in 1
m. hr. 17 m., to the light 1 hr. 30
m.: difference 13 m.
_Ipomæa jucunda_ (Convolvulaceæ) moves against the sun, placed in my
study, with windows facing the north-east. Weather hot.
1st circle was made in 5 hrs. 30 Semicircle, from the light in 4
m. hrs. 30 m., to the light 1 hr. 0
m.: difference 3 hrs. 30 m.
2nd circle was made in 5 hrs. 20 Semicircle, from the light in 3
m. (Late in afternoon: circle hrs. 50 m., to the light 1 hr. 30
completed at 6 hrs. 40 m. P.M.) m.: difference 2 hrs. 20 m.
We have here a remarkable instance of the power of light in retarding and
hastening the revolving movement. (_See_ ERRATA.)
_Convolvulus sepium_ (large-flowered cultivated var.) moves against the
sun. Two circles, were made each in 1 hr. 42 m.: difference in
semicircle from and to the light 14 m.
_Rivea tiliæfolia_ (Convolvulaceæ) moves against the sun, made four
revolutions in 9 hrs.; so that, on an average, each was performed in 2
hrs. 15 m.
_Plumbago rosea_ (Plumbaginaceæ) follows the sun. The shoot did not
begin to revolve until nearly a yard in height; it then made a fine
circle in 10 hrs. 45 m. During the next few days it continued to move,
but irregularly. On August 15th the shoot followed, during a period of
10 hrs. 40 m., a long and deeply zigzag course and then made a broad
ellipse. The figure apparently represented three ellipses, each of which
averaged 3 hrs. 38 m. for its completion.
_Jasminum pauciflorum_, Bentham (Jasminaceæ), moves against the sun. A
circle was made in 7 hrs. 15 m., and a second rather more quickly.
_Clerodendrum Thomsonii_ (Verbenaceæ) follows the sun.
H. M.
April 12, 1st circle was made in 5 45 (shoot very young)
14, 2nd 3 30
18, a semicircle 5 0 (directly after
the plant was
shaken on being
moved)
19, 3rd circle 3 0
20, 4th 4 20
_Tecoma jasminoides_ (Bignoniaceæ) moves against the sun.
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