Dioncea Muscipula, J: //is. 35 



for then the membrane breaks up light in parallel waxes that 

 look greatly like the condition of the protoplasm now described. 

 Examination of material preserved in absolute alcohol and 

 stained in eosin caused me to express the opinion, at the 1891 

 meeting of the American Association of Science, that the pr< »to- 

 plasm had delicate transverse striations, and this was also stated 

 in abstract in the " Gardeners Chronicle" (Oct., 1891). Finer 

 preparations, and the use of higher powers and additional re- 

 agents incline us to the opinion that it is due to rows of ex- 

 tremely minute globules or pores in the protoplasm. Each 

 globule or pore is less deeply stained by aniline dyes, such as 

 eosin, heliosin, and methyline blue, than is the intermediate sub- 

 stance ; iodine solution gives to them a pale bluish-yellow as- 

 pect. We are not prepared to say whether these are pores or 

 liquid globules, but the optical appearance they give to the cells 

 coupled with the movements of the leaf suggest possible cor- 

 relation with the structure of striped muscle. The discovery 

 by Haycraft that many of the optical phenomena of striped 

 muscle are due to puckering of its surface does not militate 

 against this, for the coexistence of puckerings along with pro- 

 toplasmic pores or globules is not improbable. 



The nucleus of the epidermal and mesophyll cells of the 

 blade is mostly of a fusiform shape, but by the action of swell- 

 ing agents it at times assumes an oval or spherical outline. 

 Each is bounded by a clear, highly refractive nuclear mem- 

 brane, from which processes radiate out chiefly from the poles, 

 but occasionally also from the sides. Sections of leaves that 

 have been hardened in chromic acid and alcohol, and stained 

 with strong solution of eosin show these processes stained, 

 like the nuclear membrane, of a deep refractive pink hue. 

 As they run through the protoplasmic utricle they divide up 

 and are connected with the chloroplasts, some at least seem- 

 ing to terminate in these. Dioncea thus presents the same 

 relation of the nuclear threads with the starch centres that is 

 shown by Spirogyra. The nucleolus is a small spherical, highly 

 refractive body, lying inside each nucleus. Rarely there are 

 two nucleoli. Each nucleolus encloses a minute but very 

 sharply defined endonucleolus. Numerous minute leucoplasts 



