184 MR. А. W. BENNETT ОМ THE RATE OF GROWTH OF THE 
peduncle was 26 in., lying in several long coils on the surface. I am almost certain that 
the whole of this growth, at all events in excess of the 8 in. which would have brought 
the flower-bud to the surface, had taken place within the preceding 48 hours. At 
10 o’clock the next morning the peduncle was again measured, and had attained the 
extraordinary length of 38 in., or an increase of 12 in. in 24 hours. At 4 р.м. it 
measured 41 in. ; at 9 А.м. on the 21st 421; and at 10 А.М on the 22nd it had attained 
its ultimate length of 43 inches. Тһе window in which the aquarium was placed had 
a south-west aspect; but the climatal conditions were by no means favourable to rapid 
growth, the temperature being rather low, the sun scarcely visible during the whole 
time, and the rainfall excessive. Lest it should be thought that this is the result of an | 
error of observation, I may mention that Mr. W. W. Reeves, the Secretary of the Micro- 
scopical Society, informs me in a note that he has observed an even greater rapidity of 
growth than this. I do not know whether any other instance is known of a single 
internode attaining a length of over 34 feet. This flower was never fertilized (there 
being at that time no male plant in my aquarium), but remained open, and the stigmas 
in an apparently receptive condition, nine days longer, till July 31st, when I left home. 
During this time no actual recoiling of the peduncle had taken place, though it dis- 
played a strongly marked waviness. 
It did not occur to me, until the flower-stalk had nearly completed its growth, that it 
would be interesting, in accordance with the plan proposed by Prof. Sachs, to ascertain 
in which portion of the flower-stalk the main portion of this rapid increase took place, 
though a few measurements which I did make convinced me that the apical portion 
was that in which there was the greatest activity. 
І was unable to renew my observations before the latter part of September, in which 
interval a large number of female flowers had appeared. Тһе one on which the most 
complete series of observations was made was first observed on Sept. 21st, at 10 A.M., 
when the apex of the flower-bud was 5 in. below the surface of the water, or the flower- 
bud and peduncle measured together 3 in. In two days and а half, or by 4 Р.М. on the 
24th, the peduncle had reached the length of 10-7 inches, or, when straightened, the base 
of the unopened flower-bud was 2:7 inches above the water, the bud, enveloped in its 
spathe, being 0:5 in. in length. Тһе following were the successive measurements :— 
inches, Increase. 
Peduncle and bud.......... Sept. 21st, 10 a.m. 3 
й 22nd, 10 a.m. 4:75 175 
„ 12 пооп 5 “25 
» 2 P.M. 52 : 
» 8 P.M. 5:5 3 
^" 10 р.м. 5°75 "25 
» 23rd, 9 a.m. 7°25 1:5 
» 12 noon 7.6 35 
” З P.M. 8:0 4 
Peduncle only ........ ....Бері. 23rd, 6 pm. 8-0 5 
- 10 р.м. 8-4 4 
” 24th, 8.30 л.м, 10-0 1-6 
” 4 р.м. 10-7 7 
