Model for Short Term Movements in Stapelia variegata Linn

Recently it was demonstrated that holographic interferometry could be used to quantify minute displacements of a mature Stapelia variegata Linn. The previously unobtainable measurements revealed that the short term response of the stapelia was regular enough so that the dynamics could be evaluated through the use of a highly damped mass, spring, dashpot model. Such a model is derived explicitly and the relationship between movements of the entire plant and the dynamics of individual cells or groups of cells is shown.