Nature of the contents of the cells before aggregation—Various causes
which excite aggregation—The process commences within the glands and
travels down the tentacles— Description of the aggregated masses and of
their spontaneous movements—Currents of protoplasm along the walls of
the cells—Action of carbonate of ammonia—The granules in the protoplasm
which flows along the walls coalesce with the central masses—Minuteness
of the quantity of carbonate of ammonia causing aggregation—Action of
other salts of ammonia—Of other substances, organic fluids, &c.—Of
water—Of heat—Redissolution of the aggregated masses—Proximate causes
of the aggregation of the protoplasm—Summary and concluding
remarks—Supplementary observations on aggregation in the roots of
plants.
I will here interrupt my account of the movements of the leaves, and
describe the phenomenon of aggregation, to which subject I have already
alluded. If the tentacles of a young, yet fully matured leaf, that has
never been excited or become inflected, be examined, the cells forming
the pedicels are seen to be filled with homogeneous, purple fluid. The
walls are lined by a layer of colourless, circulating protoplasm; but
this can be seen with much greater distinctness after the process of
aggregation has been partly effected than before. The purple fluid
which exudes from a crushed tentacle is somewhat coherent, and does not
mingle with the surrounding water; it contains much flocculent or
granular matter. But this matter may have been generated by the cells
having been crushed; some degree of aggregation having been thus almost
instantly caused. [page 39]