1 62 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



half, and it was again oscillating. The plant was 

 taken back into the hothouse, and in the following 

 morning was seen to be still oscillating, but not 

 vigorously. 



A cyclamen was also watched under the usual 

 conditions for three days. On the first day the leaf 

 fell more than afterwards. On all three days it fell 

 from early morning until about seven in the evening, 

 and from that time it rose during the night, with a 

 slightly zigzag movement. Although the whole dis- 

 tance travelled was considerable, yet the motion would 

 hardly attract attention, or be observed, unless some 

 method of tracing or measuring the movements were 

 adopted. 



Plants of seakale {Crmnbe maritiind) were also 

 under observation. In the first instance, a leaf nine 

 inches long was selected. Its apex was in constant 

 movement, but this could hardly be traced, from 

 being so small in extent. A more vigorous young 

 plant with four leaves was then selected. One of the 

 leaves was specially watched and found to be con- 

 tinually rotating, and its movements were distinctly 

 traced. One of the leaves changed its course at 

 least six times in fourteen hours. 



The leaves of a camellia were also observed. 

 These leaves are firm and leathery, with short foot- 

 stalks, so that but little apparent rotation was ex- 

 pected. Nevertheless the apex of a leaf changed its 



