38 DEOSERA KOTUNDIFOLIA. Chap. III. 



CHAPTEK III. 



Aggregation op the Protoplasm -vnTHiN the Cells of the 

 Tentacles. 



Nature 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 flocculent or granular matter. But this 

 matter may have been generated by the cells having 

 been crushed; some degree of aggregation having 

 been thus almost instantly caused. 



