[53]

Sep. 14-16 1879

Mimosa pudica

(Used)

The lower surfaces of the petioles of 2 young leaves on young plant were affixed by shell-lac to summit of little sticks driven into ground, so that the leaflet alone cd. move.— Leaflet not injured from sleep & was sensitive at close of observation. Glass filament with marks affixed to mid-rib of a cemented leaflet on one side, & its movement traced on vertical glass for 49°— under not very favourable condition, for the Therm. stood at only between 62° & 64° F. No doubt under more favorable conditions wd have circumnutated more.— Was in constant movement all day: On the first day fell till 11° 30' & then rose till late in evg in somewhat zig-zag line, indicting tendency to circumnutate—

On 2d day when more accustomed to conditions fell till 10.40 a.m then rose till 12° 50' or past, for  by 2° 15 had fallen a little, & by 2° 47' considerably. It then made a double oscillation in the 24° — By 4° 5' the nocturnal movement had commenced & had risen considerably, & continued to rise till 10° 30', when it was well asleep.— & began to fall. The lateral movement to left late in evening due to  manner in which leaflets sleep, by turning towards apex of the petiole.— Next morning sank again in usual manner, (see Fig.)

In the 2d leaf, 2 of the leaflet were stuck together by shell-lac & one of them not quite far from stick, so that movement confined, —nevertheless continued the whole time to try to circumnutate, & made many small irregular circles & zig-zag figures.—

[in margin:] Ascending & descending lines do not coincide— ellipses formed