RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1864].08.22-09.22. Bignonia littoralis. CUL-DAR157.1.126-128. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 4.2023. RN1
NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here.
The volumes CUL-DAR157.1-2 contain notes, abstracts etc. for Darwin's long paper and later book Climbing plants (1865). It was also commercially available as a softbound offprint, F834, F834a. See R. B. Freeman's bibliographical introduction. Items CUL-DAR157.1.11-60 were in a folder marked "Twiners". Items CUL-DAR157.1.61-112 were in a folder marked "Leaf-climbers" and items CUL-DAR157.1.114-147 were in a folder marked "Tendrils". Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin.
Bignonia littoralis. Aug. 22d
Internodes revolved good ellipse in from 8° 5 to 12° 10' = 4° 5' — Better say made 2 large ellipses at average each of 3°. 50'. —
Aug 23d & 24th.
The t. also revolves in wide circle; but far more slowly for two circles were completed in 24° 18'!! 12° 4' The petioles also move harmoniously with the tendrils; But the opposite tendrils & petioles do not move harmoniously together & of course neither with axis— They are often left behind & so two tendrils are curved in different directions.— Very singular case. The tendrils, instead of holding themselves up, are curved downwards
as if by their weight & point often beneath the horizon— As they are dragged round, & behind & below the lower revolving portion, at last they are thrown over & for a space move quickly by gravity, like certain revolving tendrils hereafter to be described— The 3 terminal points hardly at all divergent. — I suspect adapted solely to clasp upright stick. — The 3 short points have soft fleshy look. — At two periods in above 24° the petiole moved in 2 directions at nearly ∟' to each other. As far as can be judged by t. does not move harmoniously with petiole. —
When petioles securely tied, ts. revolved plainly —
T. did not bend in middle to stick in 15', nor in 60'.— Neither t. nor p. bent in 20 2° 10'; but t. moved spont. from stick.—
Perhaps too young, for the 3 fingers are beginning to diverge— Sensitiveness last longer in toes—
Big. littoralis—
Sept 2d. on return from London— I find tarsus wonderfully elongated & 3 claws divergent, with middle little longest, rather hooked at tip.— The toes can catch stick well on one side.
L. says sensitive only on lower side & tarsus very little sensitive. L says not at all.— Tendrils caught corkscrew—
With L. one of toes encircled stick in 30'.
Old very long t. would not by middle or close to toes curl round a stick; but the old toes did slowly in course of about 12°. —curl round the stick— on their external surface.—
Sept. 8' Long internode bearing fully-developed tendrils, (with 3 toes equally divergent, middle one rather the longest) made two magnificent ovals, (The tendrils are carried nearly horizontally or even depending) going against sun, in 5°. 28: so each in 2°. 44'.— The internode when younger travelled slower.—
[sketch]
(3
Sept 8' Having tied securely axis— tendrils & petioles move; indepen the two opposite ones independently of each other — They rise & fall much but also move laterally but slowly from side.
One completed an ellip oval in very nearly 6° so that thus moved less than twice as quick as the internode which bore it & which revolved in 2° 44'.—
No wonder odd movements.—
The tarsus of t very flexible & often droop from weight—
Petiole about 1 1/4 in length— Tendril fully 6 1/2 in length. Tarsus fully 9 times as long as middle toe.
Tarsus near to toes by sensitive & bend soon round stick. All toes quickly bend. —
Middle of tarsus & 2/3 of length towards apex or toes not sensitive to prolonged contact.
The equally divergent toes are bowed outward, so as to form a 3-armed grapnel— These are sensitive on concave or outward surface & on lightly rubbing a few times were perceptibly curved in 4' & greatly curled in 7'. The inch of tarsus next to toes soon curls round a stick; but when rubbed took fully twice as long to act as the toes — When stick comes into contact with middle or 2/3 of tarsus the slight curvature which ensues may be accounted for by continued movement of terminal portion —
Toes after curvature become straight again in about 7°—
Do unattached tendrils become spiral?
Does stem twine?
Bign. littoralis.
Sept 10'. One t. has caught vertical stick far above by toes— The other has gone on swinging from side to side. — this good result of independent movement—
When one toe or claw catches, others do not act if not in contact. —
In caught t. spiral contraction comes on very slowly—
Does not twine? Catches vertical stick generally with both tendrils?? by toes or by tarsus (Yes Sept 22d has done it twice— once feeble branch failed.)
Tendrils contract spirally after catching; but not if do not catch. — Does not twine at all, but lifts up both hands above head & catches vertical stick, observed 5 times.
Tendrils grow in length after clasping & extention of all 3 toes, when in contact with stick, but not otherwise (& stimulus does not travel up t.) grows out into cellular ball in outgrowth— which adheres to stick.— State I will not describe because shall have to do so under B. capreolata.
Whole t. 9 inches in length tarsus nearly 7 1/2 inches
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 19 July, 2023