CJiloropJiyll 



The colouring matter of the chlorophyll is soluble in 

 alcohol, ether, chloroform, benzine, and essential oils and fats. 



The chlorophyll granules 

 are produced in the proto- 

 plasm under the influence 

 of light, except in the case 

 of the germinating seeds of 

 some Conifers and the fronds 

 of Ferns, in which cases high 

 temperature alone appears to 

 be necessary for their forma- 

 tion. 



If a growing plant be 

 placed in perfect darkness 

 no chlorophyll will be 

 formed ; the leaves and other 

 organs which would naturally 

 have a green colour present 

 a pale and sickly appearance. 

 Such organs are said to be 

 etiolated. An example is to 

 be found in the leaf-stalks of 

 Celery. In the natural state 

 they are green, but when cul- 

 tivated, earth is heaped up so 

 as to remove them from the 

 influence of the light. The 

 result of this is to produce 

 the white leaf-stalk of the 

 edible varieties, this change 

 of colour being accompanied 

 by change of flavour. 



Chlorophyll plays a most 

 important part in the plant 

 economy, which we shall 

 notice when we treat later on of the food supply of the plant. 



Starch has the same percentage composition as cellulose, 

 but appears to have a simpler molecule, its chemical formula 



Fig. 6. — Chlorophyll granules in cells of leaf 

 of Ficnaria hygromeirica. A, granules 

 of chlorophyll, with contained starch grains 

 imbedded in the protoplasm of the cells. B, 

 separated chlorophyll granules containing 

 starch : «, 5, young granules ; U, />", chloro- 

 phyll granules dividing ; c, d, e, old chloro- 

 phyll granules : _/^ granule swollea up by 

 action of water ; g, starch granules remain- 

 ing after chlorophyll destroyed by action of 

 water. (After Sachs.) 



