(3

Oxalis sensitiva

See O. acetosella for other notes

Sept. 5th Ether spray does not cause closing — minute drops of water flicked from a brush does — leaflets move down so as to assume a vertical position. —

6th I syringed plant laterally & the leaves shut soon, & I found upper surface very wet; but in 3/4 of hour the drop were almost gone; I feel sure not evaporation.

Sept 9th I put 2 drops of water on 2 leaflets of youngish leaf & left on for 24° —

The case was kept very hot, about 85° occasionally mounting to 95°. I evaporated these drops of water on glass plate & a rather larger amt of distilled water. There certainly was much more of some transparent colourless, non-acid matter deposited from leaves water which had rested on leaves. — I can see no marks on these leaflets. (over

[in margin:] I have just ascertained that young & sensitive leaves when watered do not sink down as when asleep

(over)

[3v]

on Sept 12' & 13' I kept drops of distilled water on leaflets on leaves, at pretty high. temp. & observed them for several days afterwards, there were no brown marks, excepting perhaps on one. —

Oct 6th squirting with metallic squirt up on air & then letting drops fall well closes the leaves — but they are immensely wetted —

Glass squirt does not act. — I doubt whether object for protecting leaves—. I cd perceive no injury. — Young plant closed leaflets when pressed between finger & which did not all act, when squirted with glass squirt —

(4

Oxalis sensitiva

Oct 15th (Temp 89°-92°) I have often observed that the compound leaflets were standing upwards at a very high angle early in morning.

So I observed 2 leaves from 9° to 2° 15' during this whole time they gradually sank downwards, & as (No no — there was no movement until after 10° 34') the leaves were on my or near side of Plant, & as they faced the sun the movement was from the light. — I looked along the mid-rib. & made mark oppos in the line of midrib at successive intervals, & these joined to point. The tracing is given at back. In no 1. the movement is straight down; in (2) at first to right i.e opposed to position of sun & then downwards, but irregular— — This does not seem like the movement of climbing plants & Desmodium.

[4v]

Oct 15th

Oxalis Sensitiva [diagram]

(5

Oxalis Sensitiva

Oct. 27-29th.

Owing to steady downward movement of leaf in the tracing from 9° to 2° 15', & from often having observed the leaves standing at a very high inclination after being kept in very hot case in the early morning before 8° A.m & much depressed late in evening though kept hot all day, I remembered to obscure the plant during the night, so brought it 4° P.m to my bedroom, but at night it was a sharp frost & in my room the Therm fell from 60° to 56° during the night, & thus interfered with the proper movement — Nevertheless I here give the results. I measured the position of the leaves in following manner. — Each leaf is slightly & pretty regularly curved & they rise on a level on opposite sides all round a central axis at the summit summit. I opened compasses & by the eye placed one leg as a target to middle of curvature of one leaf, & the other leg as a target to a leaf on the opposite sides & then ascertained the angle, the two leaves made together half of which gives the angle above or below the horizon. —

[5v]

But not nearly so much elevated as I have often observed the plant after having been kept at high temp, which it likes, all night

(6

O Sensitiva

Oct 27th

At 4° 10' when plant brought into House P.m each leaf the leaves stood at 17° below horizon

27th 5° 50' P.m ― ― at 26° so had sunk

27th 10° 5' P.m at 43° {below horizon so had sunk more

Oct 28 at 2° A.m. (night) at 31° below horizon, so had been rising for some time

― 5° 35' Am to 6° 30' A.m} leaves on opposite sides as nearly as possible Horizontal — like drawing of certain Palms

 7° 45' A m 31° 31° above horizon, so had risen rapidly; but had been put into Hothouse for 1/2 Hour [see 5v]

Oct 28th 9° 35 A.m. Only 19° above horizon, so had begun in usual manner to fall again

― 12° —to 12° 30 Horizontal

― 2° 45' P.m 16° below, so had begun to fall

― 4° 10' P.m 35° below horizon

Oct 29th 7° 30' A.m. only 11° above Horizon — night very cold & hard first, yet plant was in [illeg] hot-house

Disturbed by [2 words illeg]

― 10° 50' to 12° 40' Horizontal

― 4° 10' P.m. — 33° below the horizon & thus long before dark

Oct 30' 7° 30' A.m. — about 24° above horizon; but leaves rather irregular