Summary

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.

Summary

Is forwarding the writing machine to Carl Semper.

Is glad FD has taken up his old friends, the twiners.

Hopes to get heliotropic aerial roots from J. D. Hooker. Asks FD to find out whether any moulds or roots are apheliotropic. Is puzzled by heliotropism in subterranean roots.

Summary

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.

Summary

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.

Summary

Is pleased FD’s climbing work goes well.

Thanks him for information on heliotropism.

Discusses sleep movements

and his observations on the sensitivity of radicle tips.

Summary

Comments on function of bloom.

Describes the effect of water shortage on sleep movements in Porlieria.

Summary

Has been observing the movements of leaves and cotyledons; sleep movements are exaggerated circumnutation. Reports some odd observations on movement in Oxalis species.

Summary

Describes sleep movements in Porlieria and his experiments on movements of radicles.

Thalia flowers have interesting mechanism to ensure cross-fertilisation.

Summary

Suggests experiment to detect salts deposited on surface of leaves.

Wants FD to have another go at horse-chestnut radicles.

Summary

Julius von Sachs’s views on stomata seem largely correct, but CD cannot understand how leaves can survive submerged for such long periods.

Has been observing Drosera and concludes that none of the movement of the tentacles is caused by growth.

Suggests observations to show role of pulvinus in leaf movement.

Summary

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.

Summary

Instructions to sow some seeds

and suggestions for experiment on effects of removal of bloom.

Likes Hugo de Vries very much; has hardly ever seen so modest a man.

Summary

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.

Summary

Has had conflicting information on the movement of radicles; wants FD to experiment with them.

Summary

Accepts CD’s offer of £50 for portrait of Erasmus Darwin.

Summary

Requests some seeds.

Believes the leaves of Phyllanthus sleep like those of Cassia.

Summary

Asks what position the sub-peduncles assume when the main flower peduncle of Oxalis is tied so as to be horizontal.

Asks whether FD can find some plants at Kew for CD to trace epinastic and hyponastic movements.

Summary

Will dispatch the best twisted stems he can find.

Considers the role of the pulvinus in leaf movement.

Summary

Instructs FD to make some observations on movement in Trifolium and Impatiens. Sends some seeds to be sown.

Summary

Sends letter and seeds from [F. J. Cohn].

Is working too hard.