BOTANY. 



5. In a dilute solution of potash protoplasm is dissolved ; if, how 

 ever, the solution is concentrated, tlie form of the protoplasm remains 

 unaltered for weeks, but upon the addition of water it at once dissolves. 



6. Protoplasm coagulates upon the application of heat (50 degrees 

 Centigrade), or when immersed in alcohol or dilute mineral acids. 



3. In consistence protoplasm is a soft-solid substance, 

 varying from an almost perfect fluidity on the one hand to 

 a considerable degree of hardness and even brittleness on 

 the other. This difference in con- 

 sistence is mainly due to the vary- 

 ing amounts of water imbibed by 

 it, hence the same mass may at 

 different times vary greatly in this 

 regard. Generally there may be 

 seen in protoplasm a large number 

 of minute granules enclosed in a 

 transparent medium (Fig. 2, A) ; 

 in some instances, however, the 

 grannies are entirely wanting, or 

 nearly so. By the withdrawal of 

 these granules for a little distance 

 from the surface toward the cen- 

 tre, a mass of granular protoplasm 



w,. 3.-o P ticai ^cTion of a re- < the endoplasm) may appear to be 

 trading branch of a large piasmo- surrounded by a hyaline envelope, 



diumof Fuligo variants (.Ethalium , i . 



fepticum of authors); the narrow the protoplasmic SK111, 01' CCtO- 



inner granular mass of protoplasm , /.i Tr . 7 7 / T 



is seen to be surroimdod by a broad plasm (the Hdlttschicllt of PnngS- 



hyaline portion, the ectoplasm, i j rr j i t cu. 



which in this case is radially streak- heim, and HaUptpldSmCl Of btras- 



fiu burger) (Fig. 3). It is almost al- 



d by a hyalineen- wavs formed when protoplasm is 



veiope. X aoo.-Aftcr Hofmeister. exposed in water or air ; but it, or 

 something very much like it, appears to be generally 

 present, even in closed cells. 



(a) The fine granules are probably not proper constituents of proto- 

 plasm, but finely divided assimilated food-materials immersed in the 

 proper protoplasm, which is itself colorless and transparent. Proto- 

 plasm destitute of granules may be found in the cotyledons of the 

 bean (PJiaseolus), In other cases, e.g., in the zygospores of Spirogyra, 

 the granular and coloring matters are so abundant that the hyaline 

 basis can no longer be distinguished. 



