42 
Newcombe, Sensitive Life of Asparagus plumosus. 
shoots revolved on the horizontal klinostat, while the shoot retains 
its negative geotropism. 
14. The assumption of the diageotropic position by the apex 
of the shoot cannot be conditioned by the unfolding of the lateral 
bnds; for, in one of my seedlings grown in the dark, the plagio- 
geotropic position was taken by a shoot whose bnds never unfolded, 
and in the case of shoots from rhizomes, the shoots in the dark, 
temporary plagiogeotropic curves were made with no attendant 
unfolding of branches. 
15. The assumption of the plagiogeotropic position by seed¬ 
lings in the dark, and to a less degree by other shoots never ex- 
posed to light, has become hereditary. 
16. The presence of light is necessary for the development 
of circumnutation, and hence for twining. A shoot that has been 
twining abont a support will relinquish twining after the exclnsion 
of light for 3 days. 
17. The biological significance of various behaviors of As¬ 
paragus, like the removal of inhibition of elongation of the aerial 
shoot in the dark, the relinquishing of twining in the dark, the 
failure to unfold lateral buds in the dark, and the absence or 
stunded growth of needles in the dark, may be referred to the 
Conservation of building material. The significance of the bending 
to the horizontal of the upper third or half of the aerial shoot 
from the rhizome and of the seedling may possibly bring the 
assimilating part of the plant into greater light. 
