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"The Power of Movement in Plants"

30 A.M. and 10 P.M., was 10 ? inches. The
circumnutation of two young and dwarfed leaves, arising amongst the taller
leaves at the base of the plant, was traced on a vertical glass during two
days. On the first day the apex of one, and on the second day the apex of
the other leaf, described between 6.40 A.M. and 4 P.M. two ellipses, the
longer axes of which were extended in very different directions from the
lines representing the great diurnal sinking and nocturnal rising movement.
Maranta arundinacea (Cannaceae).--The blades of the leaves, which are
furnished with a pulvinus, stand horizontally during
* 'Comptes Rendus,' Jan. 1876, p. 171.
[page 390]
the day or between 10o and 20o above the horizon, and at night vertically
upwards. They therefore rise between 70o and 90o at night. The plant was
placed at noon in the dark in the hot-house, and on the following day the
movements of the leaves were traced. Between 8.40 and 10.30 A.M. they rose,
and then fell greatly till 1.37 P.M. But by 3 P.M. they had again risen a
little, and continued to rise during the rest of the afternoon and night;
on the following morning they stood at the same level as on the previous
day.


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