AMERICAN 
JOURNAL OF BOTANY 
Vol. Ill January, 1916 No. i 
PHYSIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON ALKALOIDS, LATEX 
AND OXIDASES IN PAPAVER SOMNIFERUM* 
Rodney H. True and W. W. Stockberger 
In the summer seasons of 1902-4, while carrying on a series of 
investigations on the opium poppy, the writers made a number of 
observations ^ on the occurrence and behavior of certain oxidizing 
enzymes present in this plant. These results, although verified by a 
number of repetitions, were not published at that time, it being 
then intended by the writers to broaden somewhat the scope of the 
investigation before bringing forward their results. However, the 
continuance of the work was subject to a number of contingencies 
and was not developed in the manner anticipated. Although much 
has happened since then that might concern the interpretation of the 
data then gathered, the facts themselves seem to point to certain 
broad conclusions which now as then are likely to interest the plant 
physiologist. Accordingly, it has seemed still in order to present these 
results with this explanation. 
The plant material here used was grown by Mr. S. C. Hood, 
scientific assistant, from authentic seed at Burlington, Vermont, in 
the experimental grounds of the Vermont Agricultural Experiment 
Station in connection with co-operative work being carried on between 
that station and the Bureau of Plant Industry. 
Distribution of Oxidases and of Latex in the Plant 
The oxidase was detected chiefly by means of the guaiac tincture 
test for oxidases of the laccase type used by Schonbein^ and many 
* Published by permission of the Secretary of Agriculture. 
^ Schonbein, C. F. Ueber das Vorkommen des thatigen Sauerstoffs in organ- 
ischen Materien. Journ. Prakt. Chem. 105: 203-308. 1868. 
[The Journal for December (2: 505-582) was issued Jan. 3, 1916] 
