186 M. Nageli on Starch and Chlor^ophylle Granules. 



contents exhibit abundance of similar larger and smaller utricles. 

 We find utricles also^ which contain with the granular mucilage 

 one or more small starch granules in process of development ; 

 further, some which inclose from one to three and, more rarely, 

 four to six perfect starch granules. Near to these occur some 

 free starch granules separate or adhering together, the number 

 of which increases as we examine the contents of the starch zone 

 further down, while the number of utricles diminishes. 



The amylum globules do not originate immediately in the cell- 

 contents in Caulerpa, but in separate, small mucilage- cells. In 

 the investigation of this subject we must bring the cell-fluid 

 under the microscope, without adding water, as the contents of 

 the utricles are altered by it. The previously equally distributed 

 mucilage is precipitated from the membrane in the form of a 

 continuous layer or of particularly large granules. The utricles 

 undergo a similar alteration from the application of iodine. The 

 mucilage becomes coloured by it yellow or yellowish brown; 

 the membrane however, being from its situation free from the 

 superincumbent contents, appears as an uncoloured line. The 

 starch granules inside the utricle are perceptible on account of 

 their blue colour. When these starch granules are perfectly 

 formed the utricles are re-absorbed. Once, probably in conse- 

 quence of pressure and the action of water, I saw an utricle 

 burst and the starch granules escape from it. It is certain how- 

 ever that this is not the normal process, but the granules of amy- 

 lum become free as the utricles are gradually dissolved. The 

 former now appear as single granules, if in the utricles they lay 

 separately or several loosely aggregated. They remain adhering 

 together in clusters of three or more, if they were crowded 

 together. 



The formation of chlorophylle takes place in the leaves, and 

 indeed always, after the formation of amylum. They seem to be 

 produced in a similar manner to the latter. In each part of the 

 leaf, which gradually becomes green, we find in the cell-contents, 

 in addition to the starch granules (which originate earlier), utri- 

 cles in which merely a greenish matter is to be perceived, others 

 containing three or more green granules, lastly free chlorophylle 

 granules separate or adhering in clusters of four to eight. Lower 

 down in the leaf occur only free chlorophylle granules in company 

 with the starch granules. As the parent-cells of the chlorophylle 

 are only half the size of the starch, the investigation is very diffi- 

 cult, and conclusions are only possible from analogy, as particular 

 conditions agree with those of starch-formation. I believe my- 

 self entitled however from this to assume that the chlorophylle 

 granules in Caulerpa originate, several together, in separate muci- 

 lage-cells, which arc afterwards absorbed. 



