PHYSIOLOGY 



59 



rendered doubtful on other considerations, at any rate for the 

 plant.* 



The following table, due to Green and Jackson, f shows the 

 relation between the lecithin, fatty acid, and oil of the endo- 

 sperm of Ricinus, expressed in per cent of weight of the seeds 

 at different stages in their germination : — 



From this it appears that lecithin is formed during germina- 

 tion ; although there is, during the early stages of germination, 

 a diminution in the quantity present. It was found when 

 once the maximum was reached that this amount remained 

 constant until the whole of the endosperm was used up. 



FURTHER REFERENCE. 



Maclean and Smedley-Maclean : " Lecithins and Allied Substances," 

 Monographs of Biochemistry, London, 1927. 



* See Vol. TL, chapter on " Respiration." 

 j Green and Jackson, loc. cit. 



