46 DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA. (Cap. III. 
aggregate into spherical masses than when excited by carbonate of 
ammonia. 
Redissolution of the Aggregated Masses of Protoplasm.—As soon as 
tentacles which have clasped an insect or any inorganic object, or have 
been in any way excited, have fully re-expanded, the aggregated 
masses of protoplasm are redissolved and disappear; the cells being 
now refilled with homogeneous purple fluid as they were before the 
tentacles were inflected. The process of redissolution in all cases 
commences at the bases of the tentacles, and proceeds up them 
towards the glands. In old leaves, however, especially in those which 
have been several times in action, the protoplasm in the uppermost 
cells of the pedicels remains in a permanently more or less aggregated 
condition. In order to observe the process of redissolution, the 
following observations were made: a leaf was left for 24 hrs. in a little 
solution of one part of carbonate of ammonia to 218 of water, and the 
protoplasm was as usual aggregated into numberless purple spheres, 
which were incessantly changing their forms. ‘The leaf was then 
washed and placed in distilled water, and after 3 hrs. 15 m. some few 
of the spheres began to show by their less clearly defined edges signs 
of redissolution. After 9 hrs. many of them had become elongated, 
and the surrounding fluid in the cells was slightly more coloured, 
showing plainly that redissolution had commenced. After 24 hrs., 
though many cells still contained spheres, here and there one could be 
seen filled with purple fluid, without a vestige of aggregated proto- 
plasm ; the whole having been redissolved. A leaf with aggregated 
masses, caused by its having been waved for 2 m. in water at the 
temperature of 125° Fahr., was left in cold water, and after 11 hrs. the 
protoplasm showed traces of incipient redissolution. When again 
examined three days after its immersion in the warm water, there was 
a conspicuous difference, though the protoplasm was still somewhat 
aggregated. Another leaf, with the contents of all the cells strongly 
aggregated from the action of a weak solution of phosphate of 
ammonia, was left for between three and four days in a mixture 
(known to be innocuous) of one drachm of alcohol to eight drachms of 
water, and when re-examined every trace of aggregation had dis- 
appeared, the cells being now filled with homogeneous fluid. 
We have seen that leaves immersed for some hours in dense solu- 
tions of sugar, gum, and starch have the contents of their cells greatly 
aggregated, and are rendered more or less flaccid, with the tentacles 
irregularly contorted. These leaves, after being left for four days in 
distilled water, became less flaccid, with their tentacles partially re- 
expanded, and the aggregated masses of protoplasm were partially 
redissolved. A leaf with its tentacles closely clasped over a fly, and 
with the contents of the cells strongly aggregated, was placed in a 
little sherry wine; after 2 hrs. several of the tentacles had re-expanded, 
and the others could by a mere touch be pushed back into their 
properly expanded positions, and now all traces of aggregation had 
disappeared, the cells being filled with perfectly homogeneous pink 
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