Botany; Geotropism; Plants -- Irritability and movements
Another stolon, which resembled the last in almost every
respect, was observed during the same two days, but only two inches of
the terminal portion was allowed to project freely and horizontally. On
the 25th it continued from 9.10 A.M. to 1.30 P.M. to bend straight
downwards, apparently owing to its weight (Fig. 90); but after this
hour until 10.35 P.M. it zigzagged. This fact deserves notice, for we
here probably see the combined effects of the bending down from weight
and of circumnutation. The stolon, however, did not circumnutate when
it first began to bend down, as may be observed in the present diagram,
and as was still more evident in the last case, when a longer portion
of the stolon was left unsupported. On the following day (26th) the
stolon moved twice up and twice down, but still continued to fall; in
the evening and during the night it travelled from some unknown cause
in an oblique direction.
Fig. 90. Cotyledon umbilicus: circumnutation and downward movement of
another stolon, traced on vertical glass, from 9.11 A.M. Aug. 25th to
11 A.M. 27th. Apex close to glass, so that figure but little magnified,
and here reduced to two-thirds of original size.
We see from these three cases that stolons or runners circumnutate in a
very complex manner. The lines generally extend in a vertical plane,
and this may probably be attributed to the effect of the weight of the
unsupported end of the stolon; but there is always some, and
occasionally a considerable, amount of lateral movement. The
circumnutation is so great in amplitude that it may almost be compared
with that of climbing plants. That the stolons are thus aided in
passing over obstacles and in winding between the stems of the
surrounding plants, the observations above given render almost certain.
If they had not circumnutated, their tips would have been liable to
have been doubled up, as often as they met with obstacles in their
path; but as it is, they easily avoid them. This must be a considerable
advantage to the plant in spreading from its parent-stock; but we are
far from supposing that the power has been gained by the stolons for
this purpose, for circumnutation seems to be of universal occurrence
with all growing parts; but it is not improbable that the amplitude of
the movement may have been specially increased for this purpose.
CIRCUMNUTATION OF FLOWER-STEMS.
We did not think it necessary to make any special observations on the
circumnutation of flower-stems, these being axial in their nature, like
stems or stolons; but some were incidentally made whilst attending to
other subjects, and these we will here briefly give. A few observations
have also been made by other botanists. These taken together suffice to
render it probable that all peduncles and sub-peduncles circumnutate
whilst growing.
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