Howard : Tannin cells of persimmons 



569 



view of somewhat similar differences occurring in different kinds of 

 dates, as was pointed out by Mr. Swingle. 



In portions of the tissue where these cells occur in great abun- 

 dance there seem to be special modifications in shape by which 

 nearly adjacent tannin cells are in touch with each other. This 

 is accomplished by small protuberances extending from one cell 

 toward another of like character meeting similar projections from the 

 other cell midway. This is shown in figure 4. Such arrange- 

 ment seems very manifest in the Japanese variety, from which the 



Figure 2. Tannin cells from Chinese persimmons. X 2 5- 



illustration was made. The actual communication between the 

 cells seems to be no more free than is usual among parenchyma- 

 cells, inasmuch as only pore-like perforations appear to be present. 

 For the sake of convenience of description, the ripening proc- 

 ess of persimmons may be divided into three stages which shade 

 off by imperceptible degrees from one into the other, viz : the 



green, the transitory, and the ripe. 



In the green stage the tannin does not appear to be strongly 



