THE POWER OF MOVEMENT IN PLANTS By Charles Darwin Assisted By Francis Darwin CONTENTS DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS. THE MOVEMENTS OF PLANTS. INTRODUCTION. CHAPTER I. THE CIRCUMNUTATING MOVEMENTS OF SEEDLING PLANTS. CHAPTER II. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE MOVEMENTS AND GROWTH OF SEEDLING PLANTS. CHAPTER III. SENSITIVENESS OF THE APEX OF THE RADICLE TO CONTACT AND TO OTHER IRRITANTS. CHAPTER IV. THE CIRCUMNUTATING MOVEMENTS OF THE SEVERAL PARTS OF MATURE PLANTS. CHAPTER V. MODIFIED CIRCUMNUTATION: CLIMBING PLANTS; EPINASTIC AND HYPONASTIC MOVEMENTS. CHAPTER VI. MODIFIED CIRCUMNUTATION: SLEEP OR NYCTITROPIC MOVEMENTS, THEIR USE: SLEEP OF COTYLEDONS. CHAPTER VII. MODIFIED CIRCUMNUTATION: NYCTITROPIC OR SLEEP MOVEMENTS OF LEAVES. CHAPTER VIII. MODIFIED CIRCUMNUTATION: MOVEMENTS EXCITED BY LIGHT. CHAPTER IX. SENSITIVENESS OF PLANTS TO LIGHT: ITS TRANSMITTED EFFECTS. CHAPTER X. MODIFIED CIRCUMNUTATION: MOVEMENTS EXCITED BY GRAVITATION. CHAPTER XI. LOCALISED SENSITIVENESS TO GRAVITATION, AND ITS TRANSMITTED EFFECTS. CHAPTER XII. CONCLUDING REMARKS. INDEX DETAILED TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.—THE CIRCUMNUTATING MOVEMENTS OF SEEDLING PLANTS. Brassica oleracea, circumnutation of the radicle, of the arched hypocotyl whilst still buried beneath the ground, whilst rising above the ground and straightening itself, and when erect—Circumnutation of the cotyledons—Rate of movement—Analogous observations on various organs in species of Githago, Gossypium, Oxalis, Tropaeolum, Citrus, Æsculus, of several Leguminous and Cucurbitaceous genera, Opuntia, Helianthus, Primula, Cyclamen, Stapelia, Cerinthe, Nolana, Solanum, Beta, Ricinus, Quercus, Corylus, Pinus, Cycas, Canna, Allium, Asparagus, Phalaris, Zea, Avena, Nephrodium, and Selaginella. CHAPTER II.—GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE MOVEMENTS AND GROWTH OF SEEDLING PLANTS. Generality of the circumnutating movement—Radicles, their circumnutation of service—Manner in which they penetrate the ground—Manner in which hypocotyls and other organs break through the ground by being arched—Singular manner of germination in Megarrhiza, etc.—Abortion of cotyledons—Circumnutation of hypocotyls and epicotyls whilst still buried and arched—Their power of straightening themselves—Bursting of the seed-coats—Inherited effect of the arching process in hypogean hypocotyls—Circumnutation of hypocotyls and epicotyls when erect—Circumnutation of cotyledons—Pulvini or joints of cotyledons, duration of their activity, rudimentary in Oxalis corniculata, their development—Sensitiveness of cotyledons to light and consequent disturbance of their periodic movements—Sensitiveness of cotyledons to contact.