SENSITIVE PLANTS. 227 



other term have we which will adequately supply its 

 place, when applied to plants ? A curious coincidence 

 of the effects produced on animals and sensitive 

 plants, under the same conditions, was demonstrated 

 by M. Blondeau. Induction currents of electricity 

 have little or no effect on animals when under the 

 influence of anaesthetic agents. In order to see what 

 would be the effect, in the case of the Mimosa pudica 

 under like circumstances, he exposed a specimen to 

 the anaesthetic effect of a few drops of ether sprinkled 

 in the glass enclosing the plant. In a short time the 

 plant experienced the effect of the anaesthetic, its 

 leaves refused to move when shaken, and manifested 

 no sensibility even when the induction current was 

 passed through them. 1 The same experimenter 

 found that when a current from a galvanic battery 

 was passed through the leaves of this " sensitive 

 plant," no result was produced, and the plant did 

 not respond to the stimulus. On the other hand, 

 when in place of the direct an indirect current was 

 employed, by the use of a small Ruhmkorff's coil, 

 the results were entirely different, the leaflets folded 

 up, and the leafstalks drooped along the whole course 

 of the stem. If the current were continued for a 

 short time the plant after a period of repose raised 

 its leaves, and resumed its ordinary state ; but if the 



1 " Popular Science Review,'' vii., p. 32. 

 Q 2 



