44 PHYSIOLOGY [BoT. Absts., Vol. X, 



involving light-energy and specific pigments; (2) the immediate appearance of sugars, which 

 Beems to be universal; (3) the subsequent appearance, though by no means universally, of 

 complex polysaccharides, which are deposited in the chloroplasts. — The author discusses the 

 2nd and 3rd strata. Consideration is given to the work of Nef on the spontaneous chemical 

 changes undergone by sugars in the presence of impurities as bearing on the fact that plant 

 sugars tend to take the form of hexoses, or less often pentoses. The relation between succu- 

 lence and the production of pentoses is discussed. — The high critical sugar-concentration of 

 monocotyledons and the low concentration of the diocotyledons, while general, are ranked 

 with those morphological characters of secondary and tertiary importance in their classifica- 

 tory value because of exceptions. — The work of Reichert on the starch grain is reviewed. — 

 The uniformity of the chlorophyll pigments is contrasted with the diversity of the starches. — 

 /. F. Lewis. 



268. Davis, D. J. Food accessory factors in bacterial growth. III. Further observations 

 on the growth of Pfeiffer's bacillus (B. influenzae). IV. The "satellite" or symbiosis phe- 

 nomenon of Pfeiffer's bacillus (B. influenzae). V. The value of the satellite (or symbiosis) phe- 

 nomenon for the classification of hemophilic bacteria. Jour. Infect. Diseases 29: 171-189. 1921. — 

 The growth requirement of B. influenzae may be represented by a plain medium plus a heat- 

 resistant substance (hematin or derivative) plus a heat-labile substance. In the blood the 

 heat-resistant and the heat-labile substances are present, but the latter is destroyed by heat- 

 ing in the autoclave (120°C.) for a few minutes or at lower temperatures for longer periods. 

 The heat-labile substance can be obtained from plant, animal, and bacterial extracts, none of 

 which by themselves support a growth of B. influenzae. — Profuse growth of B. influenzae 

 occurs immediately around colonies of organisms or pieces of plant or animal tissue. The 

 product of bacteria, of fungi, of tissues, etc., which stimulates the growth of the organism is 

 thermolabile and stimulates growth in conjunction with hematin or with hemoglobin. This 

 is a phenomenon of "satellitism" (symbiosis) and is of value in identifying and in classifying 

 members of the hemophilic group. — Selman A. Waksman. 



269. DuPONT, Georges. Contribution a I'etude des constituants acides de la gemme du 

 pin maritime. Isomerisation des acides pimariques. [The constitutent acids of the leaf buds 

 of the maritime pine. The isomerization of pimaric acid.] Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris 

 172: 1373-1375. 1921. — Heat, acetic acid, and hydrochloric acid are found to isomerizelaevo- 

 and dextro-pimaric acids. Laevo pimaric acid is changed into a pimarabietic acid, which is 

 later changed into /? pimarabietic acid. — C. H. Farr. 



270. JoNEsco, Stan. Contribution a I'etude du role physiologique des anthocyanes. 

 [a study of the physiological role of the anthocyans.] Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris 172: 

 1311-1313. 1921. — It is found that plants lose anthocyan in the dark. Upon analysis there 

 proves to be a conversion of the anthocyan into anthocyanic glucosides, which are in turn 

 changed into flavonic glucosides. These latter also disappear in darkness. It is therefore 

 concluded that the anthocyans are utilized in the nutrition of the plant when in darkness. 

 To the theory of Pkingsheim, that these pigments protect the chlorophyll against too strong 

 illumination; to that of Stahl, that they facilitate the rise of temperature in the plant; and 

 to that of Palladin, that they are involved in respiration, these findings are thought to 

 add an additional explanation of their physiological significance. — C. H. Farr. 



271. Latham, R. O. The colour of primrose flowers. Nature 107: 301. 1921.— The 

 author inquires the cause of the red color in flowers normally pale yellow. It is considered to 

 be due to an anthocyan pigment, not present in normal flowers, produced by reduction from 

 the normal sap pigments, the cause of the reaction being unknown. — 0. A. Stevens. 



272. Patty, F. A. The production of hydrocyanic acid by Bacillus pyocyaneus. Jour. 

 Infect. Diseases 29: 73-77. 1921. — Different strains of B. -pyocyaneus produce varying quanti- 

 ties of HCN when grown in whole egg broth or even synthetic media, the optimum reaction 

 being Ph 5.4-5.8, This is an aerobic phenomenon and is not produced by an extracellular 

 enzyme. — Selman A. Waksman. 



