‘ - 1893.) Anatomical and Physiological Researches. 3it 
Noteworthy anatomical and physiological researches. 
The plant and its relation to iron. 
The recent investigations by Professor Molisch’, given a 
“mention honorable” by the Paris Academy, is one of the 
landmarks in physiology. As, however, the student of veg- 
etable physiology will read the paper, we shall give only the 
main results. The first part of the book deals with iron-rea- 
gents in general, and here the author gives a new reagent which 
he describes in these words: ‘‘Die meisten organischen Ver- 
bindungen, welche Eisen in maskirter Form? enthalten, lassen 
selbst in ganz ausserordentlich geringen Mengen ihr Eisen 
erkennen, wofern man die betreffenden Objecte ein oder 
mehrere Tage oder Wochen in gesiittigter wiisseriger Kali- 
lauge liegen liisst und dann nach raschem Auswaschen in 
reinem Wasser den gewohnlichen Eisenreactionen, am besten 
der Ferrocyankaliumprobe, unterwirft.” This method was’, 
however, on the suggestion of Arth. Meyer*, afterwards re- 
vised and it was found that the potassium hydrate would con- 
tain minute quantities of iron which the globoids of the aleu- 
fone grains, or other parts of the cells, can take hold of 
and hoard. This was the case, even when the reagent was 
oe as “chemically pure.” Therefore, this part of the 
“-y must be used cautiously. Having then traced the iron 
aa many plants throughout the vegetable world, the 
‘aa, proceeds to show the distribution of the substance 
in the cell-organism, in the various organs. 
Rabe ong the algae, iron was found in Cladophora aegropila 
haan a yellow or red layer of this substance, the cell- 
Sites also more or less impregnated therewith. In 
in Oecd, "ella squamaria Dne., Valonia utricularis Ag., and 
°gentum, an incrustation of similar appearance 1s also 
“ep while in Mesocarpus, Spirogyra, and certain diat- 
hens sr vg found also in the cell-contents, penetrating the nu- 
‘Sca, €chlorophyl-band. Among the fungi, RAzzomorp 
(Leci Pag among the lichens, the so-called ‘oxidized lichens” 
declinans Nyl., and other species) displayed a con- — a. 
‘Die Ase 4 
c! “rs ‘n ihren Beziehungen zum Eisen. Jena. 1892. 3 Marks. 
aa combination. 
‘Flora, tee, Dewtschen Botanischen Gesellschaft. xt (1893) 73-75: 
’ Srganzungsband p. 291. 
