The Power of Movement in Plants |
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apex apheliotropic apogeotropism arched basal bean became bend beneath the horizon blade bowed Brassica oleracea Cassia cause caustic cauterised circum circumnutating movement close coty cotyl course curvature curved damp darkness deflected described dicotyledonous direction diurnal position ellipses epicotyl exposed figure following morning geotropism glass filament ground growing growth heliotropic horizontal glass hypocotyl hypogean illuminated inch in height inch in length inclined lateral light leaf leaves ledons Leguminosa magnified main petiole manner ment Mimosa pudica move nearly nocturnal nutation nyctitropic movements observed original scale Oxalis peduncle perpendicular petiole Phalaris plumule position pulvinus radicles right angles rise rose Sachs seed seed-coats seedlings sensitive shellac shoot shown side sink sleep slightly species squares of card stem stolon stood straight summit temperature terminal leaflet tips traced Trifolium tropism upper surfaces upright upwards vertical glass Vicia faba whilst Würzburg young leaf young plant zigzag zigzag line
Popular passages
Page 572 - We believe that there is no structure in plants more wonderful, as far as its functions are concerned, than the tip of the radicle. If the tip be lightly pressed or burnt or cut, it transmits an influence to the upper adjoining part, causing it to bend away from the affected side ; and, what is more surprising, the tip can distinguish between a slightly harder and softer object, by which it is simultaneously pressed on opposite sides. " If, however, the radicle is pressed by a similar object...
Page 200 - By continually moving his head from side to side, or circumnutating, he will feel any stone or other obstacle, as well as any difference in the hardness of the soil, and he will turn from that side ; if the earth is damper on one than on the other side, he will turn thitherward as a better hunting-ground.
Page 573 - It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the tip of the radicle thus endowed, and having the power of directing the movements of the adjoining parts, acts like the brain of one of the lower animals...
Page 573 - Echinoeystis, or excited by gravitation the same part bends towards the centre of gravity. In almost every case we can clearly perceive the final purpose or advantage of the several movements.
Page 572 - Finally, it is impossible not to be struck with the resemblance between the foregoing movements of plants and many of the actions performed unconsciously by the lower animals. With plants an astonishingly small stimulus suffices ; and even with allied plants one may be highly sensitive to the slightest continued pressure, and another highly sensitive to a slight momentary touch. The habit of moving at certain periods is inherited both by plants and animals ; and several other points of similitude...
Page 558 - The flowerpeduncles are likewise continually circumnutating. If we could look beneath the ground, and our eyes had the power of a microscope, we should see the tip of each rootlet endeavoring to sweep small ellipses or circles as far as the pressure of the sur1 p.
Page 572 - ... softer object, by which it is simultaneously pressed on opposite sides. If, however, the radicle is pressed by a similar object a little above the tip, the pressed part does not transmit any influence to the more distant parts, but bends abruptly towards the object. If the tip perceives the air to be moister on one side than on the other, it likewise transmits an influence to the upper adjoining part, which bends towards the source of moisture.
Page 573 - ... in accordance with its importance for the life of the plant. The course pursued by the radicle in penetrating the ground must be determined by the tip ; hence it has acquired such diverse kinds of sensitiveness. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that the tip of the radicle thus endowed, and having the power...
Page 572 - But the most striking resemblance is the localisation of their sensitiveness, and the transmission of an influence from the excited part to another which consequently moves. Yet plants do not of course possess nerves or a central nervous system ; and we may infer that with animals such structures serve only for the more perfect transmission of impressions, and for the more complete intercommunication of the several parts.
Page iii - Cloth, $2.00. DIFFERENT FORMS OF FLOWERS ON PLANTS OF THE SAME SPECIES. With Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50. THE POWER OF MOVEMENT IN PLANTS. By CHARLES DARWIN, LL. D., FRS, assisted by FRANCIS DARWIN. With Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $2.00. THE FORMATION OF VEGETABLE MOULD THROUGH THE ACTION OF WORMS. With Observations on their Habits. With Illustrations. 12mo. Cloth, $1.50.