On a possible relationship between the structural peculiarities of 
normal and teratological fruits of Passiflora gracilis and some 
physico-chemical properties of their expressed juices 
Ross AIKEN GORTNER and J. ARTHUR HARRIS 
We present here an account of first studies on the physical 
properties of the juice expressed from normal and teratological 
plant organs. 
MATERIALS 
The plants furnishing the fruits used were vigorous and normal 
in growth but were transplanted from the greenhouse to the field 
too late to attain the largest size or to produce the maximum 
number of mature fruits before the oncoming of cold weather. 
We were, therefore, somewhat limited in amount of material, but 
altogether 10,929 fruits were dissected in obtaining abnormals 
and normals for checks. Not many more could have been worked 
over with the facilities available. 
The fruits for which adequate samples could be secured fell 
into the following classes :* 
(a) Normal fruits. Six external sutures, three placentae, no 
prolification. A sample of such fruits, collected as described 
below, served as a check for each of the samples of abnormals. 
(b) Seven external sutures, three placentae, no prolification; 
2 samples, I, 2. 
(c) Eight external sutures, three placentae, no prolification; 
I sample, 3. 
(d) Eight external sutures, four placentae, no prolification; 
9 samples, 4-12. 
(e) Six external sutures, three placentae, slight and generally 
abortive prolification of three external carpels; 1 sample, 13. 
* For a general account of prolification in Passiflora see a paper by J. A. Harris, 
Prolification of the Fruit in Capsicum and Passiflora, Ann. Rep. Missouri Bot. 
Gard. 17: 133-145. 1906. 
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