52 



BOTANY. 



for obtaining solutioDB. In transmitted light the alcoholic solation is 

 green, but when viewed by reflected light it apiiears to be red. 



When an alcoholic solution of chlorophyll is btiiled for a few minutes 

 Vith analcoholic solation of potash, and tlien neutralized with hydrochlo- 

 ric acid two substances are ob- 

 tained : the one as a yellow pre- 

 cipitate, named Phylloxanthine, 

 and the other a blue suiistance 

 dissolved in the supernatant 

 liquid ; by evaporation tlie lat- 

 ter may be obtained as a blue 

 powder, named Phyllocyanine. 



(c) The importance of iron in 

 giving a green color to plants 

 is easily demonstrated by f;row- 

 ing young plants of Indian corn 

 in solutions containing no iron. 

 The first-formed leaves are 

 green, but subsequently only 

 colorless ones are produced ; 

 alter the addition of iron in the 

 form of ferric sulphate or ferric 

 chloride, the colorless leaves 

 become green in the course of 

 a few days. 



The importance of light in 

 the production of chlorophyll is 

 shown in the etiolated shoots of 

 the potato when grown in a 

 dark cellar ; the same thing 

 may be shown by germinating 

 the seeds of many common 

 plants in dark boxes. 



(d) The disappearance of chlo- 

 rophyll is seen in the common 



Pig. 43 —Chlorophyll grannies in cells of operation of blanching celery 

 the leaf of a moss, Funatia hygrmmtrim. A, for table use, and in the blanch- 

 granules of chlorophyll with contained starch . . , , j , 



grains, embedded in the protoplasm of the ing of grass- blades under 

 cells. B, separated chlorophyll granules con- boards. D pon gradually expos- 

 taiomg starch : a and b, young granules \ V . , ; , , '^ , 



6", granules dividing ; c, d, and «, old gran- ing such colorless plants to the 

 nles ;/, granule swollen up by the action of lip.l,t chloronlivll \n Mnirliirfid 

 water; y, starch grains left after destruction i'gut cmoropuyii is proaucea. 

 of chlorophyll gninnle by theaction of water, (e) Manyplants whicu contain 

 XBSO.-After Sachs. chlorophyll have their green 



color hidden by the presence of some other coloring-matter. Some- 

 times this is dissolved in the water contained in tlie vacuoles ; this is 

 the case in Ooleus, in which the dissolved pigment is red. In young 

 plants of Atriplex the epidermal cells are filled with such a red solu- 

 tion, hiding the green clilorophyll-bearing cells underneath. In cer- 



