128 LIVING PLANTS 



lost. In ten to fourteen days after the begin- 

 ning of the experiment, the laminae assumed 

 a yellowish color, as a result of the decom- 

 position of the chlorophyll, and other signs of 

 deterioration appeared ending in the death of 

 the organ a few days later. 



The structure and arrangement of the tis- 

 sues had undergone but little differentiation 

 from the forms present in the folded condition, 

 and differed from the normal forms by the size 

 of the single layer of palisade cells and the 

 globular form of the spongy parenchyma, and 

 seemed moreover to be in a state of hunger. 

 It is to be noted that the sheathing spathe 

 also undergoes similar abnormalities, but 

 since it is never folded, and since its develop- 

 ment consists principally of a longitudinal ex- 

 pansion of the cylindrical sheath and hooded 

 tip, the more apparent deviation is one of size. 

 The thickness is such as to prevent crumpling. 

 It is to be noted moreover that the develop- 

 ment of the spathe is usually accomplished 

 before the leaves have begun maximal growth 

 under normal conditions. If mature leaves 

 were sealed into an apparatus similar to the 

 above, no changes were discernible until fif- 

 teen to twenty days later. At this time the 

 starch, and other carbohydrates with which 

 they were richly loaded, having been used, a 

 shrinkage was noticeable and the leaf was 



