286 SOME RECENT RESEARCHES IN PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 



Agrostemna, exhibit similar changes, though these reac- 

 tions are not given by all flowers. Fitting attributes them 

 to dissociation changes, since they are also given in tissues 

 killed with chloroform, as well as in aqueous and alcoholic 

 extracts. It is very probable that they are due to isomeric 

 transformations of the anthocyanin, as suggested by Will- 

 statter in the case of decolorization by strong alcohol. 



The relation of oxidases to the occurrence of anthocyanin 

 has already been discussed at length, so need not be treated 

 of here. 



THE ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION OF ANTHOCYANINS 

 IN THE CELL. 



The recent work of Guilliermond (1911, 1913, 1914) upon 

 mitochondries has given much precision to the study of 

 the cytology of the plant cell in relation to its physiology. 

 At the outset it is advisable to consider his terminology. 



Mitochondries (/uros, a thread; x^fyooj, a grain) was the 

 name given by Benda to filaments or grains occurring in 

 the cell which could be differentiated by special treatment, 

 though they could also be observed in the living cell. 

 They are very minute organoids, a few thousandths of a 

 millimetre in length, existing as isolated grains mito- 

 chondries in the strict sense or as rows of grains like 

 streptococci: chondriomites. They may also have the 

 form of more or less elongated sinuous filaments, which are 

 termed chondriocontes, and resemble bacilli. Any one of 

 these forms may change into any other. The various types 

 occurring in a cell are collectively designated the chon- 

 driome. 



Guilliermond has shown that not only do these bodies 

 give rise to chloro-, chromo-, and amylo-plasts, but they 

 are also the seat of the elaboration of phenolic substances 

 and of anthocyanin. He has traced the successive stages- 



