I. Note on the electrical phenomena which accompany irritation of the leaf of Dionæa muscipula

Abstract

1. When the opposite ends of a living leaf of Dionæa are placed on non-polarizable electrodes in metallic connexion with each other, and a Thomson’s reflecting galvanometer of high resistance is introduced into the circuit thus formed, a deflection is observed which indicates the existence of a current from the proximal to the distal end of the leaf. This current I call the normal leaf-current . If, instead of the leaf, the leaf-stalk is placed on the electrodes (the leaf remaining united to it) in such a way that the extreme end of the stalk rests on one electrode and a part of the stalk at a certain distance from the leaf on the other, a current is indicated which is opposed to that in the leaf. This I call the stalk-current .