470 Physiologie. 



coloc3mthin in its physical, chemical and physiological properties. 

 The edible species of this and other varieties of allied genera are 

 believed to owe their freedom from poisonous principles to cultivation. 



E. Drabble (Liverpool.) 



Brown, A. J., On the Existence of a semipermeable 

 Membrane enclosing the Seeds ofsome ofthe Grmnineae. 

 (Ann. of Bot. Jan. 1907.) 



The grains oi Hordewn , Avena, Triticinn and S^c«/e are enclosed 

 within a semipermeable membrane which permits the passage of 

 water and iodine to the interior of the grain, but prevents the 

 passage of sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid and all salts of 

 metals at present examined in aqueous Solution. 



From a Solution of sulphuric acid of normal strength water is 

 absorbed by the grain of barle}' and the increase in concentration 

 of the acid is approximately proportional to the amount of water 

 absorbed by the grain. Hence the acid does not penetrate in any 

 marked degree, that it does not penetrate at all, is shown bj^ using 

 the blue grained varietj' of Hovdewn vulgare (Var. coerulescens). 

 This variety contains a greenish blue pigment in its aleurone cells. 

 This pigment is changed to red by the action of acids. Sulphuric 

 acid and Hydrochloric acid do not affect the colour in entire grains. 

 5% Nitric acid is injurious to the semipermeable coat, which being 

 disintegrated, allows the inward passage of the acid. 



Solution of sulphuric acid of strength as great as 36.0°/^ failed 

 to destroy the coat and to penetrate in 44 hours. 



Copper Sulphate, Ferrous Sulphate, Potassium Chromate, Silver 

 Nitrate and Potassium Ferrocyanide in 5°/Q-solution were all excluded 

 by the membrane, Sodium Hypophosphate is also excluded. Iodine 

 penetrates the grain without injuring the semipermeability of the 

 coat, while Sodium H^'drate in 1% Solution destroys the membrane. 



The semipermiabilitj^ lies in „Spermoderm" or grain-covering 

 and is not due to the action of living protoplasm. 



E. Drabble (Liverpool.) 



Buller, A. H. R., The Enzymes oi Polxporits squamosus, Huds. 

 (Ann. of Bot. p. 49—59. Jan. 1906.) 



The author has obtained reactions pointing to the presence oi 

 the following enzymes and oxidases in the fruit body of Polyporiis 

 squajuosits, Huds. Diastase; Laccase; Tyrosinase; Protease acting on 

 gelatine but incapable of attacking fibrin; Erepsin; Emulsin; Renne- 

 tase; Lipase; Coagulase; negative results were obtained in the tests 

 for Pectase, Maltase, Invertase, Trehalase and Cytase. 



The effect of the fungus on wood leaves little doubt that cj^tase 

 is present in the mycelium although this enzyme could not be 

 detected in the fruit-body. Hadromase may b}- present also. 



E. Drabble (Liverpool.) 



Dott, D. B., "The Ammonia Test for Podophyllin". (Pharm. 

 Journ. Oct. 20th 1906.) 



Henry has stated that the resinoid obtained from Podophyllwn 



