STARCH IN THE STEMS OF PALMS. 335 



The asparagus shoots analysed came from the Botanical Gar- 

 den at Munich. The flowering shoots were cut close to the 

 ground, on June 20, 1861 ; the autumn shoots were cut in the 

 same way, from the same plant, on October 28, 1861. 



APPENDIX B (page 41) 



ON THE STARCH IN THE STEMS OP PALMS. 



The quantity of starch in one and the same stem differs to an 

 extraordinary degree with the age of the plant, and the periods of 

 flowering and fructification. 



The generation of starch will in some instances rapidly increase 

 not only within the cells, but occasionally even at the expense of 

 the cellular tissue. Thus, in the root-stock of Sabal Mexicana, an 

 abundance of starch is sometimes .found, not only in the interior 

 of the cells, but also outside the latter. But this phenomena is 

 most striking in the East India Sago Palms (Hetroxylori), in which 

 it can be clearly observed that the generation of starch proceeds 

 in distinct periods, and is in intimate organic connection with the 

 development of the flowers and fruit. The Malays are in the 

 habit of speaking of the tree as if it were with young at this pe- 

 riod, during which it generates in its interior a large quantity of 

 starch, forming the store of organic matter, out of which are to 

 be produced, after liquefaction, new ligneous particles, and flow- 

 ers, and fruit. This statement is peculiarly applicable to the Me- 

 troxylon Rumphii Mart. (Sagus genuina JKumph). This tree, 

 which is a perfect chemical laboratory for the preparation of 

 starch, is monocarpous, that is to say, it flowers and bears fruit 

 only once, and then dies. It has by that time attained a height 

 of from 28 to 30 feet. The stem, which is cylindrical, and more 

 than a foot in diameter, consists of a mere shell, about one and a 

 half to two inches thick, of a whitish wood of no great degree 

 of hardness. Within the shell is enclosed a mass of spongy tissue 

 formed of interlaced fibres, the cells of which are filled with 

 starch granules. In the first stage of growth, whilst the stem 

 still remains unripe, if the expression may be allowed, it contains 

 only an inconsiderable quantity of starch. As growth progresses, 

 and the base of the leaf stalks, and the upper part of the stem be- 

 gins to be covered with long fibrous filaments or prickles, the 

 quantity of starch increases. 



The period of the greatest increase is indicated by the shed- 

 ding of these prickles, and by the leaves being covered with a 

 sort of white rime, as if powdered lime had been dusted over 

 them. The Malays call this stage the Maaputih, i. e. the tree 



