PHYSIOLOGICAL BOTANY. 247 



Observations on the Formation of Starch. By C. 

 MULLER; Bot. Zeit., 45, 833. They were instituted 

 upon Chora crinita, and, according to the author, they 

 exhibit the following points : it is the cytoblasts which 

 are transformed into starch, and this only occurs in cells 

 which are mature. 



Note upon the Phenomena produced by the Transmission 

 of Polarized Light through Starch. ByM. BIOT. Compt. 

 rend., 1844, vol. i, p. 795. In his previous experiments 

 the author examined the granules of starch by means of 

 two prisms, one of which was placed above the other, and 

 crossing it at right angles ; on the present occasion he 

 changed the apparatus by so placing a plate of mica be- 

 tween the two prisms, that the median line between the 

 two axes formed an angle of 45 with the principal 

 sections of the prisms. The mass of the granule is then 

 seen illuminated with bright colours, the tints of which 

 vary with every change of position, and with the direction 

 in which the luminous rays are transmitted ; so that, as 

 in a picture, all the curves of the outline, all the undu- 

 lations of the surface, all the peculiarities of the structure, 

 and the slightest accidental alterations become sensible. 

 Probably under some circumstances this means may prove 

 of the utmost value ; but in the present case, considering 

 the great and accidental varieties in the structure of the 

 granules in starch, it is perhaps of minor importance. 



We shall now pass from cells to vessels. In the 

 ' Annual Report/ for 1841, I made some observations 

 upon the work of C. H. Schultz, on Cyclosis in plants, 

 author has replied to them in a book which we shall 



lude to presently, viz. : ' Discovery of the True Nutri- 

 tive Process of Plants/ Berlin, 1844. He there says, 

 with regard to my remarks, p. 54 : " There are two main 

 points to be considered : first, whether I have correctly 

 denominated the vessels of the liber, vessels of the vital 

 fluid (lebenssaftyefassc] ; and, secondly, whether the cur- 

 rents of fluid in Commelina codcstis consist of a circula- 



