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XVI. On the motions of the tendrils of plants. By Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. F. R. S. In a letter to the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K. B. P. R. S

1812; Royal Society; Volume: 102; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1098/rstl.1812.0018

2053-9223

Thomas Andrew Knight,

Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies

My Dear Sir, The motions of the tendrils of plants, and the efforts they apparently make to approach and attach themselves to conti­guous objects, have been supposed by many naturalists to originate in some degrees of sensation and perception: and though other naturalists have rejected this hypothesis, few, or no experiments have been made by them to ascertain with what propriety the various motions of tendrils, of different kinds, can be attributed to peculiarity of organization, and the operation of external causes. I was consequently induced, during the last summer, to employ a considerable portion of time to watch the motions of the tendrils of different species of plants; and I have now the pleasure to address to you an account of the observations I was enabled to make. The plants selected were the Virginia creeper (the ampelopsis quinquefolia of Michaux,) the ivy, and the common vine and pea.