58 TORREYA 



friends were present. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and 

 approved. Eight annual members and two associate members were unanimously 

 elected. The transfer of three annual members to associate membership was 

 approved. The resignations of thirteen members were accepted with regret. 



Dr. Seaver reported that the Auditing Committee had completed examina- 

 tion of the books, found them correct, and turned them over to the new Treas- 

 urer, Dr. Fulling. 



The scientific program of the afternoon consisted of a paper by Dr. 

 Lawrence P. Miller, entitled "Induced Formation of Glycosides in Plants." 

 The speaker's abstract follows : 



The addition to the nutrient medium of plants of organic chemicals which can serve as 

 aglycons leads to the formation of /3-glycosides in such plants. The ability of plants to 

 form these /3-glycosides seems to be very widespread and not correlated with the known 

 occurrence or non-occurrence of natural /3-glycosides in the species studied. Many of the 

 species investigated were able to withstand the addition of relatively large amounts of 

 chemical with the result that the /3-glycosides formed became major constituents quantita- 

 tively of the tissues produced. The identity of the glycosides formed was established 

 through isolation of the pure crystalline substances and comparison with the corresponding 

 synthetic compounds which were especially synthesized in connection with these investiga- 

 tions. The type of /3-glycoside formed depended upon the species, the particular plant organ 

 involved and the chemical. Frequently the sugar component was not D-glucose. With 

 solanaceous species some /3-gentiobioside was always formed although gentiobiose is not 

 known to occur normally in this family. In some instances in which the added chemical 

 did not contain an hydroxyl group, other organic reactions had to take place within the 

 plant prior to glycoside formation. It is suggested that studies of this nature are valuable 

 in yielding information as to the type of organic reactions plants can carry out and as to 

 the distribution or possible distribution of various sugars other than D-glucose in different 

 species of plants. 



After considerable discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Frances E. Wynne 

 Recording Secretary 



Minutes of the Meeting of March 6, 1945 



The meeting was called to order by President Seaver at 8 :25 p.m. in Room 

 710 of Schermerhorn Extension, Columbia University. Twenty-seven mem- 

 bers and friends were present. The minutes of the preceding meeting were ap- 

 proved as read. 



Dr. Karling explained that Sigma Xi meeting would interfere with at- 

 tendance of Columbia members on May 1 and suggested that the meeting be 

 postponed until a later date. It was left to the program committee to arrange 

 this. 



