Absoeption and Transmission of Solutes 123 



tant factor in the distribution of solutes throughout the 

 plant body, whether this be the plasmodial mass of a Myxomy- 

 cete or the great body of a pine tree, is probably simple 

 diffusion. 



If it were not for the phenomenon of turgidity, the 

 plasmic membrane would not be in condition to allow dif- 

 fusion to take place readily. But the membranes do not di- 

 rectly aid in the transmission of solutes ; they only hinder it. 



