BOTANY. 



for obtaining solutions. In transmitted light the alcoholic solution is 

 green, but when viewed by reflected light it appears to be red. 



When an alcoholic solution of chlorophyll is boiled for a few minutes 

 with an alcoholic solution of potash, and then neutralized with hydrochlo- 

 ric acid two substances are ob- 

 tained : the one as a yellow pre- 

 cipitate, named Pliylloxindhine, 

 and the other a blue substance 

 dissolved in the supernatant 

 liquid ; by evaporation tlie lat- 

 ter may be obtained as a blue 

 powder, named Phyllocyanine. 



(c) The importance of iron in 

 giving a green color to plants 

 is easily demonstrated by grow- 

 ing young plants of Indian corn 

 in solutions containing no iron. 

 The first-formed leaves are 

 green, but subsequently only 

 colorless ones are produced ; 

 after the addition of iron in the 

 form of ferric sulphate or ferric 

 chloride, the colorless leaves 

 become green in the course of 

 a few days. 



The importance of light in 

 the production of chlorophyll is 

 shown in the etiolated shoots of 

 the potato when grown in a 

 dark cellar ; the same thing 

 may be shown by germinating 

 the seeds of many common 

 plants in dark boxes. 



(d) The disappearance of chlo- 

 rophyll is seen in the common 



Fig. 43 Chlorophyll granules in cells of operation of blanching celery 

 the leaf of a moss, Funana hygromet.rica. A, f or table use, and in the blanch- 

 granules of chlorophyll with contained starch . 



grains, embedded in the protoplasm of the ing of grass -blades under 

 cells. J5, separated chlorophyll granules con- boards U pon gradually expos- 

 taming starch ; a and 6, young granules ; V 



b", granules dividing; c, d, and e, old gran- ing such colorless plants to the 

 ules ;/, granule swollen up by the action of liffht chlorophyll is produced, 

 water; g, starch grains left after destruction & * J \ 



of chlorophyll gnmule by the action of water, (e) Many plants which contain 

 X 550.-After Sachs. chlorophyll have their green 



color hidden by the presence of some other coloring-matter. Some- 

 times this is dissolved in the water contained in the vacuoles ; this is 

 the case in Coleus, in which the dissolved pigment is red. In young 

 plants of Atriplex the epidermal cells are filled with such a red solu. 

 tion, hiding the green chlorophyll-bearing cells underneath. In cer- 



u 



