Asks whether canary grass and oats have chlorophyll in their cotyledons.
Has been working hard at circumnutation of leaves to see whether sleep movements are exaggerated circumnutation.
Suggests sensitive plants that close at night would be protected from nocturnal-feeding snails. JIR’s brother in India says snails occur there in abundance.
Thinks it would be a good idea to give the typing machine to Karl Semper.
Has been observing the movements of leaves and cotyledons; sleep movements are exaggerated circumnutation. Reports some odd observations on movement in Oxalis species.
Can send FD twisted branches of some climbing plants if he wishes.
Asks questions related to movement in plants. The cotyledons of Oxalis offer a promising field for study.
Wonders why Julius von Sachs thinks bloom is a protection against insects.
Encloses notes on the cotyledons of Oxalis species.
Sleep of Porlieria hygrometrica seems independent of light.
Will have lots of time for oats. W. F. P. Pfeffer’s point is that there is no growth in sleepers with joints. A. F. Batalin says there is a slight growth.
[Dated Saturday 28th by FD.]
Will dispatch the best twisted stems he can find.
Considers the role of the pulvinus in leaf movement.
JIR’s brother writes from India in support of the protective function of plant sensitivity.
Suggests FD call on Carl Semper.
Inquires about Porlieria: Do the leaves shut to check evaporation? Does it appear silver under water?
Explains how he thinks the pulvinus acts; wishes FD would investigate the point.
Has a magnificent bush of Porlieria. There is no vestige of bloom; CD will test for sleep movements. Reports successful experiments on temperature-induced sensitivity of radicles.
He has been talking to Julius von Sachs about sleeping plants that move with and without growth.
Describes sleep movements in Porlieria and his experiments on movements of radicles.
Thalia flowers have interesting mechanism to ensure cross-fertilisation.
Sleep in Porlieria studied.
Oats begin germinating.
Chlorophyll development in oat seedling.
Lists the sleeping plants he has seen.
Julius Sachs thinks Hugo de Vries has not cleared up everything [about climbing plants]. But Sachs has not worked on the mechanical problem.
Asks for list of families of sleeping plants. Believes sleep is merely modified circumnutation at a particular time of day.
Porlieria has had no water for some time but shows no sign of flagging.
Describes the response of Thalia flowers to touch.
More sleepers from green-house.
Julius Sachs’s view of climbing plants: he distinguishes between nutation to find a support and growth after support is found.
Discusses sleep movements of Porlieria.
Has read an abstract of Julius Wiesner on heliotropism and geotropism ["Die heliotropischen Erscheinungen im Pflanzenreiche", Anz. Kais. Akad. Wiss. Wien 15 (1878): 137–40] which seems important but is puzzling.
Gives details of his observations on climbing plants with reference to comments by Julius Sachs.
Has offered Carl Semper the writing machine.
Speculates on the mechanism of movement in plants and their reception of and response to stimuli.
Has been investigating nutational movements of climbing plants; comments on the opinions of Julius von Wiesner and Julius Sachs. Remarks on the sleep movements of certain plants and the mechanism of tendril curvature. Is experimenting with Porlieria.
Has visited K. G. Semper’s laboratory.