38 DEOSERA ROTUNUIFOLIA. Cuxr IIL 



CHAPTEE III. 



A3GREGATION OF THE PROTOPLASM WITHIN THE CELLS OF THE 



TENTACLES. 



future 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 aggre- 

 gation, 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 ex- 

 amined, 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 con- 

 tains much flocculeiit or granular matter. But thia 

 nmtter may have been generated by the cells having 

 been crushed ; some degree of aggregation having 

 been thus almost instantly caused. 



