[13]

Southampton. June 15— 1877.

Two allied species of Acacia, with much pinnated leaves sleep by bringing leaflets together & directed towards apex of pinna— — Syringed with water at 92°, no effect whatever. — Well protected by bloom, so young leaves not wet, though old ones were.

Robinia pseudo-acacia— — syringed violently (& shaken) with water at 90°— The petiole of each leaflet moved a little towards apex of leaf, & each leaflet turned downward & rotated 1/2 round. — so that in good position for throwing off water— both surfaces well silvery.— At night when fast asleep, leaflets hang vertically down, with the laminæ on each side of mid-rib inclined towards each other at almost right-angles. — During day the opposite leaflet either stand horizontally or raised above horizon.—

Jun 16th shook this same leaf violently (& day was rather windy shaking all the branches) & poured water at 65° & 95° over it & syringed it with do water at 92°, but no effect. — Shaking, however, a much younger leaf caused the depression of leaflets.—

[13v]

I have now shaken 3 more young leaves & certa certainly leaflets soon depress themselves but not so much as when asleep, movement like that of Oxalis— whether of any use is very doubtful.—

[13b]

In one case think that stems of plumule injured or indeed in my case by decay of flesh,─ must be to tempt the animals which devour them & in no degree more impossible then their being rendered sweet & nutritious for their palette & bright  contrasted in colour with the foliage to attract their eyes.