Possible roles of polyamines in the inhibition of cell elongation in Ranunculus petioles were investigated. Exogenously apoplied polyamines greatly inhibited the auxin-induced petiole growth, while treatment of the tissue with $alpha$-difluoromethylarginine, the inhibitor of putrescine biosynthesis, further enhanced the growth in the presence of IAA. Inhibitory effect of spermine can also be apparent for fusicoccin-induced elongation, but not for growth induced by a low pH. Spermine also suppressed the ethylene-enhanced growth in the presence of auxin. Using computer-based video digitizer system, the inhibitory effects of spermine on petiole growth were kinetically analyzed. Auxin-induced growth was characterized by an initial and transient growth with a highly elevated rate followed by a steady growth with a slightly reduced rate. Spermine treatment was found to shorten the duration of the initial phase of growth, and to reduce the rates of both the initial and steady growth as well. The latent period for auxin induction was not affected by spermine.