ABSORPTION OF LIQUID NUTRIMENT. II 



Epiphegus (Beechdrops), and the microscopic Rusts and Smuts 

 are examples of plants of this latter type. Mistletoe and many 

 other parasitic plants are furnished with chlorophyll and are 

 able to obtain a portion of their food-supply from the simple 

 compounds. 



EXPERIMENT 10. 



NUTRITION OF CUSCUTA. 



Examine plants of any ordinary species of Impatiens growing 

 in wet or swampy ground, in September. On some of these plants 

 may be found the yellowish cordlike twining stems of Cuscuta, 

 bearing knotty masses of pale yellow or cream-colored flowers. 

 With the plants still in position note that the Cuscuta has no soil- 

 roots, but that it sends short haustoria or suckers into the stem of 

 the Impatiens. With a sharp knife cut across the stem of the host- 

 plant and determine the depth to which the haustoria have pene- 

 trated. The haustoria obtain sap from the host-plant by osmose, in 

 a manner similar to the action of the root-hairs of land plants. 



9. Nutrition of Saprophytic Plants. Many plants derive 

 all or a large proportion of their food-material from the 

 products of the metabolism (see Chapter IV) of other organ 

 isms. Such plants are termed saprophytes. Examples of this 

 type are afforded by Corallorhiza (Coral-root), Monotropa 

 (Indian-pipe), Toadstools, Mushrooms, and many Bacteria. 

 EXPERIMENT n. 



NUTRITION OF TOADSTOOLS. 



Note the growth of Toadstools and other Fungi on pieces 

 of decaying wood in a damp forest. Tear apart the mass on which 

 the plants are growing, and trace the long irregular absorbent organs 

 ramifying in all directions through the mass. 



EXPERIMENT 12. 



NUTRITION OF MOULDS. 



Place a fragment of saturated bread under a moist bell-jar for 

 two days. A number of slender hypha of a Mould may be seen 

 springing from the bread. Tear apart a small bit of the bread 

 and examine with a magnification of 50 diameters. The absorbent 

 mycelice. can be seen branching in all directions. 



