818 REPORT—1904. 
2. Oxidising Enzymes and Katalases in Plants. 
Ly Professor R. Cuovat. 
3. On the Pollination of Gymnosperms. By Professor K, Fusu. 
4. The Dissemination and Germination of Arceuthobium occidentale. 
Ly Dr. Guorce J. Peirce, 
As is well known, the fruits of Arceuthobiwn explode, discharging the ‘seed’ 
to a distance often of 25 feet. ‘The conditions for developing the greatest 
explosive force are (1) an abundance of water in the soil and the host-plant, 
a species of pine, and (2) moist air. The structure of the fruit is such that it will 
withstand great internal pressure, and when the fruit finally breaks at the base, 
the force which stretched the walls of the fruit and compressed the ‘seed’ is 
applied against and violently expels the ‘seed.’ The force develops mainly in 
consequence of the absorption of water by the gelatinous walls of the cells in 
certain layers in the fruit. 
Germination can take place upon anything, but moist air and moderate warmth 
are essential. The roots of the seedlings are markedly negatively phototropic. 
Unless the forward growth of the root be stopped by some obstacle, the root does 
not attach itself and form a holdfast. Only on rough bark, never on leaves or 
smooth parts of the bark, is germination followed by attachment and penetration 
into the host. ‘lhe haustorium, after penetrating into the cortex, sends out slender 
branches penetrating the medullary rays and attaching themselves to the 
tracheids of the host. Meantime buds develop on the mass of parasitic cells in 
the cortex of the host, and these quickly grow out into branches which at first 
vegetate and later flower. There is perfect connection between the xylem 
elements in the bundles of host and parasite. Between the phloem clements of 
host and parasite parenchymatous cells intervene, as is the case in other green 
parasites. 
5, On the Transpiration Stream vi Smali Plants. 
Ly Dr, Ovrvo V, DarsisHiRe. 
6, Ona Brilliant Pigment appearing after Injury ww Species of Jacobinia 
(N.0. Acanthacew). By J. Parwin, ALA, 
Shoots of certain species of Jacobinia,' when bruised and extracted with water, 
yield a beautiful purplish liquid. Liebmann discovered these species while travel- 
ling in Ceutral America about half a century ago, and found the Indians using 
them for dyeing purposes. ‘Thomas,* while in Mexico, submitted the colouring 
principle cf Jacobinia Mohintli to a brief examination. Since then these plants 
seem to have received no further investigation, and their peculiarity is apparently 
little known to botanists. ‘The object of the present paper is to direct attention 
to this conspicuous example of pigment-formation, and to give a few details con- 
cerning the chromogen and the colouring matter resulting from it. The author 
hopes to make a full investigation later. So far the observations have been made 
on the two very similar species, Jacobinia tinctoria and Jacobinia Mohintli. The 
peculiar behaviour of the former plant was brought to the writer’s notice, when in 
Ceylon, by Mr. Willis, the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. 
The pigment does not exist as such in the living plant, but appears only on 
death. Leaves, however, killed by boiling water remain green and do not darken. 
1 Jacobinia tinctoria, J. Mohintli, J. mcana, J. neglecta, and J. verrucosa, 
2 Journ, de Pharm. et de Chimie, 1866, sev. iv. t. iii. p. 251. 
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