424 M. H. V. Mohl on the Structure of Chlorophyll 



cases do distinctly occur. For instance, in the leaves of Stra- 

 tiotes aloides I saw no starch precede the chlorophyll-globules, 

 neither did I find it in the chlorophyll-globules which became 

 developed subsequently; further, in several species ol Selaginelia, 

 in the points of the stems and in the youngest leaves I could 

 find no trace of starch, neither could 1 detect it in the chlo- 

 rophyll-globules subsequently produced. Therefore we cannot 

 consider the presence of starch-grains a necessary condition for 

 the formation of chlorophjdl. 



With regard to the second question, whether the form of the 

 chlorophyll is compatible with the assumption of its origin from 

 starch-granules, the affirmative must be admitted uncondi- 

 tionally in reference to chlorophyli-globules. When however 

 Mulder attributes a similar origin to the other forms, assuming 

 that amorphous chlorophyll is produced by the fusion of large 

 groups of starch-grains converted into chlorophyll, the assump- 

 tion is completely opposed to the anatomical facts ; for it is never 

 observed that the chlorophyll-bands of Zygnema, the chloro- 

 phyll-membrane of Ulothrix, Draparnaldia, kc, the ])eculiai-ly- 

 shaped chlorophyll of Anthoceros, Sec, are represented in young 

 cells by collections of starch-grains. Observation demonstrating 

 that these forms do not originate from starch, this reason alone 

 must render such a derivation of chlorophyll extremely impro- 

 bable. But besides all this, the whole of Mulder's conception rests 

 upon a mistaken view of the composition of the green substance 

 of chlorophyll, of which he assumes, that it is soluble in alcohol, 

 and consists of green colouring matter and wax ; while I think 

 I have abundantly demonstrated that the principal mass consists 

 of a substance allied to protoplasm, which certainly cannot ori- 

 ginate from a metamorphosis of the constituents of starch. 



Nevertheless, if not in all, yet in the majority of plants where 

 the chlorophyll-globules contain starch, the latter might serve 

 for conversion into the wax combined with the green colouring 

 matter ; if this were the case, one would imagine that the deve- 

 lopment of the green substance of a chlorophyll- globule would 

 be accompanied by a diminution of the size of the starch-gra- 

 nules contained in it. In proof of the actual existence of this con- 

 dition might be advanced the circumstance, that in many plants 

 we find starch-grains in the chlorophyll-globules of very young 

 leaves, while in those of full-grown leaves they are no longer 

 met with. Yet it must appear doubtful whether these starch- 

 grains furnish an essential contribution to the formation of the 

 chlorophyll-globules, when we take into consideration their rela- 

 tive dimensions, for we then see that they are insufficient for the 

 purpose. Thus, for example, in Sedum Telephium, inner leaves 

 (about a line long) of the bud contain chlorophyll-globules in 



