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in shade. About two hours after this withdrawal of the direct 
light of the sun, it was noticed that the flower-head, together with 
a certain portion of the supporting stalk, bent inward to the centre; 
giving a relaxed and languid appearance to the growth. This 
condition continued throughout the evening and night, but had 
entirely disappeared the next morning. This drooping towards the 
axis of the plant, and contrary to the line of gravitation, on the 
oblique direction of the branch that a withered part would follow, 
was a daily constant movement during the time named; and indicated 
some vital action required under the exigency of the temporary 
conditions of development. The plant was visited at the return of 
light, in the early dawn, before the sun had risen, or direct rays 
could fall upon it. The flower-buds were then rising from the 
depending position, and continued gradually to move back towards 
the original place. Under the daily occurrence of this double 
movement of drooping and recurving, the stalk acquired at the 
part affected by the bend and lift back, a permanent double flexure ; 
which on the death and drying up of the skeleton of the plant, in 
the Autumn, was still quite conspicuous; the curves were free 
and open; the one towards the umbel being less so than the lower 
one. It may be here observed that a quality of infexion appears 
to be a character of the plant, as noticed in the contraction of the 
long rays of the bracts upon the centre of the receptacle, when the 
fruit is forming, after the blossom; and, as may be seen in the 
entire skeleton of the plant after death, when the limbs bend 
inwards upon the axis with a long sweeping curve. In the latter 
part of the life of this specimen, when the sunny aspect had 
diminished, and the shady-side had increased, a general slope of the 
whole growth occurred towards the sunlight; but at the time of 
this intermitting movement alluded to, the general growth was 
uniform and even in its dome-like form. 
On July 27, 1886, the lateral branches of the axis had 
advanced in growth above the central stem. The second series of 
blooms were passing off; therefore, as the 1st measurement had 
been taken when the 1st bloom was fading, it was thought to be a 
good period to take a second measurement, for comparison with the 
first : — 
The height of the central stem was now........ . .4ft. din. 
The extreme lateral extent, taken as before, was... .dft. 5in. 
That is, whilst the centre was growing a foot,.the other parts, the 
primary branches with the off-sets, had-grown about two feet. 
There was no increase upon ‘this growth shown by subsequent 
measurement. 
A sort of general stock was now taken of the plant. Wind 
