27 



It was voted that Dr. Flora Murray Scott, University of California, 

 405 Hilgard Street, West Los Angeles, Calif., be admitted by unanimous 

 ballot to annual membership in the Club. 



The scientific part of the program consisted of a talk by Dr. 

 E. B. Matzke of Columbia University on "Autumn Coloration." 

 The speaker's abstract follows : 



When the green pigments, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, break down 

 in the fall of the year, the carotene and xanthophyll, which are yellow to 

 reddish-orange, become evident ; anthoxanthins may be pale yellow. Antho- 

 cyanins are responsible for the brilliant red to violet colors of certain plants ; 

 their formation is governed by the genetic make-up of the plant, internal 

 nutriment, light, temperature, available water, fixed nitrogen, and oxygen. 

 The final brown is caused largely by tannins. 



Through New England the sugar maple is the tree most largely respon- 

 sible for the colors of autumn — varying from yellow to brilliant red. Its 

 counterpart farther south is the scarlet oak, though other species of oak 

 are also important. Red and purple colors are also added to the landscape 

 by the dogwood, sour gum, sweet gum, sassafras, and white ash. The yellows 

 are largely furnished by the hickories, tulip tree, and ginkgo. Black cherry, 

 last of our trees to turn, takes on all colors, from purple to yellow. 



Among the shrubs, purples, reds, and yellows are added by the sumachs, 

 blueberries, barberry, and spicebush. Vines like cranberry, Virginia creeper, 

 and Boston ivy, add their more modest bit. In the salt marshes glasswort 

 is brilliant red. Beard grass paints the poorer hillsides tawny orange. Fruits, 

 like those of holly, bittersweet, hawthorne, and barberry, each add their touch 

 of red or yellow. 



This display is characteristic of eastern Asia and eastern North America ; 

 in Europe, the Danube valley and parts of Switzerland are also showy, 

 but to a less extent. 



This final fanfare of color has no deep underlying biological significance. 



The meeting was adjourned at 9 :25 P.M. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



JOHN W. THOMPSON, JR. 

 Recording Secretary 



Minutes of the Meeting of November 19, 1941 



The meeting was called to order by the First Vice-President, 

 Dr. E. B. Matzke, at 3 :35 P.M. at the New York Botanical Garden. 

 Thirty-two members and friends were present. 



In the absence of the Recording Secretary, the Corresponding 

 Secretary read the minutes. The minutes of the previous meeting 

 were adopted as read. 



