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Darwin, Charles, 1809-1882

"The Movements and Habits of Climbing Plants"

As on the succeeding morning I found that the
shoot revolved in 2 hrs. 45 m., it must have made during the night
four revolutions, each at the average rate of a little over 3 hrs. I
should add that the temperature of the room varied only a little.
The shoot had now grown 3.5 inches in length, and carried at its
extremity a young internode 1 inch in length, which showed slight
changes in its curvature. The next or ninth revolution was effected
in 2 hrs. 30 m. From this time forward, the revolutions were easily
observed. The thirty-sixth revolution was performed at the usual
rate; so was the last or thirty-seventh, but it was not completed;
for the internode suddenly became upright, and after moving to the
centre, remained motionless. I tied a weight to its upper end, so as
to bow it slightly and thus detect any movement; but there was none.
Some time before the last revolution was half performed, the lower
part of the internode ceased to move.
A few more remarks will complete all that need be said about this
internode. It moved during five days; but the more rapid movements,
after the performance of the third revolution, lasted during three
days and twenty hours.


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