RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1878.10.10-22. Red Cabbage. CUL-DAR209.8.52-57. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 7.2022. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR209.7-8 contain notes on heliotropism (phototropism) for Darwin's book Movement in plants (1880).


(1

Oct 10th 1878

Red Cabbage Light

Gold-beaters skin fastened round upper half of Hypocotyls of 3 seedlings. —& the same round the hypocotyls of 4 seedlings; the gold-beaters being then painted black with very thick Indian Ink.— Exposed at 9° 30' in blackened box to lateral light before S.W. window; but day very dark rainy & cloudy.—

Examined at 5° P.m. —

In Pot I. 3 with blackened Gold-beaters, quite vertical — 2 unpainted as much bent as any the free ones (N.B Oct 11th. 8' a.m, the unpainted ones become almost vertical during night.)

In Pot II— one unpainted as much bowed as free ones— the blackened one bowed at right angle to light & bowed almost to ground, but as stiff I do not think injured I removed gold-beaters skin & found on side to which Hypocotyl— a large number of small holes, looking like punctures, but I presume were bubbles in india ink— This if trustworthy is very important, for it shows that upper part gives directive force, as basal naked part, illuminated all day not directed to light. No I am not sure but believe that in this latter case base was bent—

The most important fact is that by measurement the basal part of the painted ones was straight whereas, of the paint unpainted the corresponding part was bowed to light—

(2

Oct 11th 1878

Red Cabbage Seedlings. painted gold-beaters skin

(Painted very thick Indian Ink) Heliotropism

Same Pot

In Blackened box, before S.W window, but not in Sun. Pot I exposed at 9° 20' — Pot II. exposed 9° 25 a.m.

Directed in different point of c direction yesterday almost reversed, as seedlings pointed a little to one former sided.

Pot I examined at 4° 30' P.m

(1) & (2) The same specimens in same state as yesterday (marked with pins) Both quite upright whilst all the unpainted greatly curved to light almost to

(3) One yest which had gold-beaters skin yesterday, but not painted & which bowed to light & almost recovered position during night now painted— Just perceptibly curved to light, but the black pipe does not extend nearly half way down. — will this during night become vertical (marked with match) ?—(Yes become straight during night)

(4) an old former unpainted spec: pipe rather short (?) — curved to light —

(5) nearly painted one — Completely vertical

(6) Big Pin newly painted, but with narrow stripe at right angle to light left unpainted — ✓ Completely upright; I see that the unpainted stripe is rather more than rt very nearly at rt angle to line of light & as box pl blacked inside, it might well not get any light ✓

Pot II. (7) Big Pin like No' 6.; but there was one which yesterday was unpainted & behaved like no (3.) — Considerably curved to light, & not but then blackened pipe extends down only 1/3 (measured) length of Hypocotyl— — Direction not deflected by very narrow unpainted zone— & to affect this light directly, light wd have had to enter at angle of 68° from which it did — At end of deep internally blackened box, not a ray cd have struck the stripe directly. (Became straight during night)

(8) a very tall seedling nearly painted black. — basal part very slightly inclined to light; but I see the painted pipe does not extend half down the Hypocotyl — (Became straight during night)

will these 2 in Pot get upright during night—? marked with

(3

1878 Cabbages seedlings— Blackened Pipe of Gold beaters upper Half— S.W. window near mouth of Blackened Box

Oct 12. exposed at 9° a.m.

Pot I

(1) Big Pin, tried yesterday & kept upright, with streak left unpainted directed at a angle of about 50° not coated from chief source of light: quite vertical & not in the least affected by naked stripe.

(I must always paint twice)

(2) new seedlings with black 1/2 way down — vertical, or with shade of flexure but basal part not nearly so curved as the free seedlings of equal height

(3) new seedling with black 1/2 way down; well curved to light, now after days growth, cap does not extend quite 1/2 way down, but this will not account for curvature.— (a) Back Pot II. exposed 9° 25' a.m.

(4) new seedings with black 1/2 way down — doubtful— slight curved to light, but the basal parts of other seedlings in pot not greatly curved to ground— seedlings I think too old.

(5) Big Pin with stripe left unpainted directed at angle of about 80° from chief source of light — quite vertical— stripe no effect ✓ Blackened Box

(6) Big Pin, one tried yesterday, directed at angle of of 61° from chief source of light. —almost vertical, but upper part portion of basal part (& the basal part is large compared with covered or painted part) very slightly curved to light, not nearly so much as corresponding part of other seedlings equally tall—

Stripe has produced no effect

Width of stripes.

[3v]

(a) I have now carefully dissected away the gold-beaters & on concave side a perfect reticulation of open spaces— still covering epidermis after dissection, so that I feel sure no error, & the concave side towards the light was very badly protected─

4

Oct 17. 1878

Red Cabbage— seedlings.— Etiolated with gold-beater skin blackened round upper Half of Hypocotyl. — Exposed at 9° SW. window— Hazy day examined at Seedlings in height.— Pots not in Box— Blind 1/2 down. — Oct 18th now most of these .85 high & the basal part does not bend much, so whole experiment goes for nothing.

(1) On Pot I a younger one curved a little to light — 5 others upright [sketch] so that upper protected part does not bend. — Window or hole has produced no effect

(2) Pot 2.— one curved a upright— one with window curved half way between direction of light & point to which window points.

(3)

(4)

(5) with hole left unpainted in diameter, one hypocotyl, directed at angle from chief source of light.—

(6)

(6) Like (5) in all respect.

(7)

(8)

5

Oct 18' 1878

Red Cabbage. Seedlings .4 of inch higher or

rather shorter— for the older ones do not bend down to ground

 Gold-beaters skin blackened upper half

Exposed to Paraffin Lamp in darkened room at 11° 25'. a.m. ie after 5° 10'

Six seedlings.—

4° 45' P.m. — Left for night before Lamp.—

Pot I. (1) quite vertical; including basal part whereas other four of same height curved to light— Height .6 — (19th 8 a.m exposed all night to Paraffin Lamp— quite vertical & contrast still greater with all the seedlings of same height

(2) do Height .45 (19.' 8° a.m same remark apply as in (1)

Pot. II (3) do ie quite vertical including basal Half — (19th 8° a.m after having been exposed to same Paraffin Lamp all night— contrast greater than yesterday with seedlings of same height; the free ones have their upper half almost horizontal, & the curvature goes down to the surface of sand

(4) do (19th 8°C all above remarks applicable as in (3)

(5) do (19th do. do do do

(6) basal part very slightly inclined to Light. (19th 8° am. inclined in just same slight degree as yesterday evening: this one case explained clearly from considerable space on side to light so badly painted that pink stem visible

(average Height remeasured of the 4 seedlings in Pot 2 .45 of inch some a little higher & some a little shorter

It is now certain that with young cabbages basal half does not bend to Light unless upper part stimulated by light—

(6

Oct 21. 1878

Red Cabbage Seedlings— Hypocotyls

Basal Half with gold-beaters' skin— Placed before Paraffin Lamp

Seedlings about & a little under 1/4 of inch High— raised in darkness.—

sand excavated round bases & then filled up.— 7° 20' exposure

Exposed at 9° 10' a.m.

(5) with more gold-beaters skin (as contrast)

(4) with do painted twice with very thick Indian Ink

4° 30' P.m The 5 unpainted as much curved or very nearly so down to the bases or sand

The 4 with basal halve blackened, these quite vertical, whilst their upper halves much curved to light—

9° 30' P.m— All in exactly same state after exposure to bright Lamp for 12° 20'— The seedlings with unpainted skin as much bowed as the free ones

Oct 22d 8° 30' a.m— reversed reversed Pot. & exposed to Paraffin Lamp till 4° 36: but experiment will go for nothing, as seedlings grown so much I doubt whether basal part will bend.— examined at 4° 30' basal portion still quite upright, whereas most of the seedlings of equal height somewhat bowed in their lowest part

Oct 22d 8° 30' a.m — painted covered basal half of fresh 6 young seedlings & painted covering with Indian ink & exposed to Paraffin Lamp.

Examined 4° 30' P.m (ie exposure of 8°) 5 quite vertical with upper part bowed to light whereas the free ones were of equal height (viz .45' 1/4 of inch & some a little under) were bowed down to ground— One was bowed a little to light & on holding this up to sky the side toward the Lamp was full of minute holes in the paint apparently from the shrinking of the paint.

Case absolutely same as Phalaris


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 25 September, 2022