KLEINIA ARTICULATA 311 
KLEINIA ARTICULATA. 
Final Report of Committee appointed to investigate the effect of conditions 
on the growth, structure and metabolism of Kleinia articulata (Prof. D. 
TuHopay, Chairman; Mr, N. Woopueap, Secretary; Dr. F. F. 
BLACKMAN, F.R.S.). 
THE starvation experiments referred to in the last report showed that 
malic acid is broken down in the later stages, and associated with this is 
a marked increase in the pH of the sap. When protoplasmic breakdown 
occurs in the pith, the pH of the escaping sap reaches about 8. 
Observations on wound-healing have been continued and extended to 
Kleinia neritfolia and other species. The distribution of solutes in these 
other species has also been examined. 
An experiment, lasting five weeks, was carried out in the three chambers 
previously mentioned, each chamber illuminated by a s500-watt Osram 
lamp with white dispersive reflector and running-water screen. In each, 
24 cuttings, previously sprouted in the dark, were exposed respectively to 
daily periods of illumination of 8 hours, 12 hours and 15 hours. The 
temperature in the chambers during illumination was about 18—20° C., and 
fell in the intervals to about 16-17° C. In the 15-hours chamber many of 
the sprouts rapidly withered. In the 12-hours chamber most of the shoots 
showed a more or less marked tendency to plagiotropism, which was only 
shown by a few in the 8-hours chamber. The average elongation was 
gteatest with the shortest daily illumination, least with the longest. 
Further experiments are contemplated for further analysis of these effects. 
The stock of plants was depleted by this experiment, and attention has 
since been concentrated on replenishing it. The work will be continued, 
but the Committee does not apply for reappointment. 
The following papers have appeared during the year : 
H. Evans; ‘The Pentosan Content of Kleinia articulata,’ Biochemical 
Journal, xxvi, 1095-1100 (1932). 
D. THopay and H. Evans: ‘ The Distribution of Soluble Calcium and 
Phosphate in the Tissues of Kleinia articulata and some other Plants,’ 
Ann. Bot., xlvi, 781-806 (1932). 
D. TuHopay and H. Evans: ‘ The Distribution of some Solutes in the 
Tissues of Kleinia articulata,’ Ann. Bot., xlvii, 1-20 (1933). 
