L 



ME. B. I. LYNCH ON THE BLIMBIKG. 231 



Glyphia cicatricosa, f. favulosa J Verrucaria cinclionse, Ach. 



congestula, Strn.j sp. n. 



Melanotheca aciculifera, M/L 

 Trjpethelium CTuentum(Mnt,). 



Tribe Peridiei. 



(Ack). 



Tribe Pjrenocarpei. 

 Verrucaria a^thioleola, Ach. 



ruderella, J!fj/l, sp. n. 



paramera, iV^Z., sp. n, Endococcua thalamita, iV^Z., 



albescens, *subochracea,iV. ®P- ^ 



Note on tlie Blimbing {AverrTioa Bilimli, Linn.). By E. Irwin 



Lynch, Esq. 



MiJBiE, F.L.S.) 



[Eead June 21, 1877.] 



I HATE the pleasure of bringing before the Society an instance 



of leaf-movement which I believe to have some physiological 

 interest. 



The leaflets of the Blimbing [AverrJioa Bilimhi^ Linn.) are de- 

 pressed to nearly the position of sleep, spontaneously, from time 

 to time during the day. The act takes place so slowly in succes- 

 sion as very easily to escape observation, and to be properly seen 

 requires the attention of some minutes. The leaflets move down 

 with tolerable quickness, perhaps in three or four seconds, but 

 rise again so slowly that the motion is quite imperceptible. The 

 movement is not spasmodic, as in Desmodium gyrans^ but is per- 

 fectly steady and continuous up to completion. One leaflet only 

 of a leaf has been seen In downward motion at the same time, and 

 a ^Qw only are down together. There seems not to be a strict 

 order of rotation ; a leaflet being down, the next to follow may be 

 the one most nearly opposite, or the one next below on the same 

 side. The terminal leaflet is often active, and appears to move 

 without reference to those nearest to it. A leaflet has been 

 observed to make a descent three times within half an hour. 

 This plant, besides having a spontaneous movement throughout 

 the day (temperature and light being favourable) is subject also 

 to the condition of sleep, and is sensitive to mechanical irritation. 

 No plant has perhaps been recorded as having the three kinds 

 of movement all evident at si^rht. JDesvxodium gijrans is subject 



to sleep, and has spontaneous movement during the day and 

 night, but is not appreciably sensitive. Mimosa pudica is sen- 

 sitive and subject to the condition of sleep, but is without other 



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