50 CIKCUMNUTATION OF SEEDLINGS. Chap. I 



Notana prostrata (Nolanese). — The movements were not 

 traced, but a pot with seedlings, which had been kept in the 

 dark for an hour, was placed under the microscope, with the 

 micrometer eye-piece so adjusted that each division equalled 

 ^th of an inch. The apex of one of the cotyledons crossed 

 rather obliquely four divisions in 13 minutes ; it was also sink- 

 ing, as shown by getting out of focus. The seedlings were 

 again placed in darkness for another hour, and the apex now 

 crossed two divisions in 6 m. 18 s. ; that is, at very nearly the 

 same rate as before. After another interval of an hour in dark- 

 ness, it crossed two divisions in 4 m. 15 s., there- 

 Fig. 37. fore at a quicker rate. In the afternoon, after a 

 longer interval in the dark, the apex was motion- 

 less, but after a time it, recommenced moving, 

 though slowly ; perhaps the room was too cold. 

 Judging from previous cases, there can hardly 

 be a doubt that this seedling was cireumnuta- 

 ting. 



Solarium lycnperskum (Solaneae). — The move- 

 ments of the hypocotyls of two seedling to- 

 Sohnum lycoper- matoes were observed during seven hours, and 

 sicum: civcuni- there could be no doubt that both circumnu- 

 "ocot'r "^ ''^h ^^^' ^^®^ '^^''^ illuminated from above, but 

 filament fixed ^J ^^ accident a little light entered on one side, 

 across its sum- and in the accompanying figure (Fig. 37) it 

 mit, traced on may be seen that the hypocotyl moved to this 



fromTo A M*to ^i"^^ (*^^ ^PP^' ""^ ^ *^® figure), making small 



5 p.m. Oct. 24th. loops and zigzagging in its course. The move- 



Illuminated ob- ments of the cotyledons were also traced boih 



liquely J^°™ on vertical and horizontal glasses ; their angles 



ment' of bead ^ith the horizon were likewise measured at 



magnified about various hours. They fell from 8.30 a.m. (October 



35 times, here i7t]i) to about noon ; then moved laterally in a 



thMoforig!nIi zigzag line, and at about 4 p.m. began to rise; 



scale. they continued to do so until 10.80 p.m., by 



which hour they stood vertically and were asleep. 



At what hour of the night or early tnorning they began to fall 



was not ascertained. Owing to the. lateral movement shortly 



after mid-day, the descending and ascending lines did not 



coincide, and irregular ellipses were described during each 24 h. 



The regular periodicity of these movements is destroyed, as wa 



shall hereafter see, if the seedlings are kept in the dark. 



