40 DROSERA EOTUNDIFOLIA. [Chap. IIL 



only just perceptible granules,* which rapidly grow larger cither 

 from coalescence or from attracting more protoplasm from the sur- 

 rounding fluid. On one occasion I chose a singularly pale leaf, and 

 gave it, whilst under the microscope, a single drop of a stronger 

 solution of one part to 437 of water; in this case the contents of 

 the cells did not become cloudy, but after 10 m. minute irregular 

 granules of protoplasm could be detected, which soon increased 

 into irregular masses and globules of a greenish or very pale purple 

 tint; but these never formed jwrfect spheres, though incessantly 

 changing their shapes and positions. 



With moderately red leaves the first efTect of a solution of the 

 carbonate generally is the formation of two or three, or of several, 

 extremely minute purple spheres which rapidly increase in size. To 

 give an idea of the rate at which such spheres increase in size, I 

 may mention that a rather pale purple leaf placed under a slip 

 of grass was given a drop of a solution of one part to 292 of 

 water, and in 13 m. a few minute spheres of protoplasm were 

 formed; one of these, after 2 hrs. 30 m., was about two-tliirds of the 

 diameter of the cell. After 4 hrs. 25 m. it nearly e<iualled the cell 

 in diameter; and a second sphere about half as large as the first, 

 together with a few other minute ones, were formed. After 6 

 hrs. the fluid in which these spheres floated was almost colourless. 

 After 8 hrs. 35 m. (always reckoning from the time when the solu- 

 tion was first added) four new minute spheres had appeared. Next 

 morning, after 22 hrs., there were, besides the two large spheres, 

 seven smaller ones, floating in absolutely colourless fluid, in which 

 some flocculent greenish matter was suspended. 



At the commencement of the process of aggregation, more espe- 

 cially in dark red leaves, the contents of the cells often present a 

 different appearance, as if the layer of protoplasm (primordial 

 utricle) which lines the cells had separated itself and shrunk from 

 the walls; an irr^ularly shaped purple bag being thus formed. 

 Other fluids, besides a solution of the carbonate, for instance an in- 

 fusion of raw meat, produce this same efTect. But the appearance 

 of the primordial utricle shrinking from the walls is certainly 

 false; ' for before giving the solution, I saw on several occasions 

 that the walls were line<i with colourless flowing protoplasm, and, 

 after the bag-like masses were formed, the protoplasm was still 

 flowing along the walls in a conspicuous manner, even more so than 



[I)e Vrles (loc. cit. p. 50) J)e- Olnuer, In the ' Jnlires-Berlcht 



llovos that the form of nRKregH- dor Schl. Oesell. fdr vntorlilnd. 



tlon produced by carbonate of Ciiltur,' 1887, p. 107, also dlstln- 



aintnonia Is radlrnlly different fniixbes nmnionla nKKrcfcatton 



from ordinary aKirretcatlon. r. g. from the ordinary form of the 



that produced by meat. He be- phenomenon. F. I).] 



lleves It to he due to a preclplta- With other plants I bare 



tlon of albnnilnonH matter: the often seen what apiear to be a 



IcrnnuleB tbuH fornierl tend to be- true Hhrlnking of tlie primordial 



come packed Into baltn, and tinis utricle from the walln of the 



dense masses are produced which celln. cnusefl by a Holutlon of 



It Is not always easy to dls- cart>onate of amninnia, as like- 



tlmculnh from the aKKrexated wise follows from mechanical la- 



niaKKen which De VrioH bellevcnl Juries, 

 to be formed from the vacuole. 



