ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 71 



In the Florideae (Polysiphonia, Sphserococcus,) M. Belzung states 

 that the starch-grains are formed directly in the protoplasm, without the 

 intervention of leucites, and have no definite morphological connection 

 either with the chromatophores or with the nucleus. 



The general result of the examination of the embryo of ripe seeds 

 (Leguminosa}) is that they contain no leucites of any kind. A large 

 number of chlorcleucites and all chloramylites are formed directly ; the 

 former by differentiation of the cell-protoplasm, the latter by meta- 

 morphosis of starch-grains. Instead of chlorophyll-giaius (chlora 

 mylites) producing starch-grains, by the assimilation of carbon, they are 

 themselves formed from starch-grains produced free in the protoplasm. 

 During germination in the dark the transitory starch-grains, after 

 partial absorption, are transformed into amylites. It is these sub- 

 stances, and not the protoplasm, which form the granular substance of 

 the chloramylites. 



The formation of transitory starch in fungi in the course of germi- 

 nation was demonstrated in the case of the sclerotia of ergot of rye. 



To this M. F. W. Schimper * replies, denying the accuracy of every 

 one of M. Belzung's statements, where they conflict with his own, viz. the 

 statement that it is not proved that starch is formed by leucites, that 

 starch-grains can be transformed, without the assistance of protoplasm, 

 into green granules resembling chloroleu cites, but composed of a 

 skeleton of starch impregnated with pigment ; and that leucites can be 

 formed free in the protoplasm. The existence of " chloramylites " he 

 considers to be entirely a delusion. The objects recommended for 

 studying the true structure of leucites are the pseudo-bulbs of Phajus 

 grandifolius, the rhizomes of Iris florentina and germanica, and the tubers 

 of the potato. 



Quantitative estimation of Chlorophyll."!"— By the use of his method 

 already described, Herr A. Tschirch found the usual proportion of 

 chlorophyll in the dry substance of leaves free from ash, determined as 

 phyllocyanic acid, to be from 1*8 to 4-0 per cent. ; in a square metre of 

 surface from 0-35 to 1-23 gr. of chlorophyll. The proportion, of course, 

 varied considerably; the most common percentage was 0*8 gr. per 

 square metre. 



Formation of Starch in the Chlorophyll-granules.}: — Dr. G. Belluci, 

 in order to determine whether the production of starch under the 

 influence of sunlight, and the subsequent reconversion during night- 

 time, is to be regarded as a physiological or as a chemical change, tried 

 the effect of the presence of various substances. Chloroform, and to a 

 slighter extent ether vapour, destroy chlorophyll, and also prevent the 

 transformation of starch formed during sunlight; carbonic anhydride 

 also diminishes the function of the chlorophyll, but does not destroy it 

 if the action is not allowed to continue unintermittently for twenty-four 

 hours. The saccharification of starch proceeds in the dark, even in cut- 

 off leaves, but more rapidly with free access of air. From these experi- 

 ments, the author concludes that the phenomenon is a physiological and 

 not a chemical change. 



* Ibid., vi. (1887) pp. 77-89. 



t Versamml. Deutsch. Naturf. u. Aerzte, Wiesbaden, Sept. 21, 1887. See Bot. 

 Centralbl., xxxii. (1887) p. 57. Cf. this Journal, 1886, p. 346. 



J Chem. Centr., 1887, p. 572. See Journ. Okem. Soc. Lond., 1887, Abslr., p. 1136. 



