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''On the Movements and Habits of Climbing Plants'' is a book by Charles Darwin first printed in book form in 1875 by John Murray. Originally, the text appeared as essay in the 9th volume of the ''Journal of the Linnean Society'', therefore the first edition in book form is actually called the ‘second edition, revised.’ Illustrations were drawn by Charles Darwin’s son, George Darwin. Following the ''Origin of Species'' Darwin set out to produce evidence for his theory of natural selection. Initially Darwin spent much time in studying plants to achieve this aim. This book stands second in line to his first work on plants, ''On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects.'' (1862) This work is subdivided into chapters concentrating on a particular type of climber which he divided into four main classes but Darwin, in this volume, concentrates on the two main classes, the twining plants and the leaf climbers (divided into two sub-divisions: leaf climbers and tendril bearers) The following comprise the chapters: 1. Twining plants 2. Leaf climbers 3 & 4.Tendril bearers 5. Hook and Root climbers. ==Context== Inspired by reading an 1858 short paper by his friend Asa Gray on the movements of tendrils, Darwin set up experiments to explore the development of so many kinds of climbing plants in an evolutionary context. The concept of the power of movement in plants (‘spontaneous revolutions of the stems...’ p. 1) had already been observed as he acknowledges in the first chapter. His conclusions in his last plant book, ''The Power of Movement in Plants'' are key here: i.e. that circumnutation (the process that creates the circular or elliptical movement of the stem and tips of plants) was central in the development of multitudes of adaptations to the environment and thus resulting in an immense variety of plants. The climbing habit evolved from this basic power of movement. Darwin conducted, in his own words, "observations, founded on the examination of above a hundred widely distinct living species." This, he maintained, "contain sufficient novelty to justify me publishing them." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「On the Movements and Habits of Climbing Plants」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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