STUDIES ON THE RELATION OF THE LIVING CELLS 
TO THE TRANSPIRATION AND SAP-FLOW 
iN-CYPERUS. II 
JAMES BERTRAM OVERTON 
(WITH TWO FIGURES) 
Experiments with poisons 
In order to kill certain portions of the stems of Cyperus, I have 
used chloroform and ether in the manner described by ROSHARDT, 
and have always found that the leaves soon droop, behaving exactly 
like those placed in an atmosphere of these substances. When the 
fluid is poured into a tube incasing the stem or placed on cotton 
in the tube, the leaves soon droop. This indicates in my opinion that 
these substances are soon absorbed and carried to the leaves. The 
leaves soon fade and wither after treatment with ether or chloroform. ° 
I have also made several experiments with xylol in the same way, 
and found that the results are similar to those obtained by using 
steam. In one experiment xylol containing eosin was poured into 
an incasing tube inclosing 15 cm. of a stem 43 cm. high. That the 
xylol was absorbed by the stem was indicated by the color; at the 
end of 30 min. the xylol was drawn off and the joints were secured. 
A plant had been chosen which had a well-developed branch from the 
base of one of the crown leaves. The involucre remained fresh and 
turgid for 10 days and then dried, while the branch lived 5 days 
longer; the part treated with xylol collapsed and the leaves became 
yellow and dried in about 15 days. The whole behavior of the 
plant was like that of one which had had a portion of its stem 
steamed, except that leaves on such steamed plants do not always 
turn yellow. Other experiments with xylol gave similar results. 
I have tried several other poisons in solution, killing 5-10 ©™ 
of the stems by pouring the liquid into incasing tubes. In many 
cases I have chosen plants with branches developing from the crow?- 
I have used 95 per cent alcohol, 1 per cent chromic acid, saturated 
Botanical Gazette, vol. 51] nis 
