Absorption of Water by some Succulents. 
397 
The fact that the cut ends of the branches were in most cases sealed 
with plasticine introduces a slight inaccuracy into the percentage of losses 
and gains, but they are not serious enough to vitiate the general con- 
clusions which we can draw from them. 
Mesembrianthemum baebatum, L. 
Two branches, each with eight leaves. 
I. 
Kept in laboratory, a drop of water placed 
daily on the stellate hairs, 
16/5/09 Weight, -391 gr. 
23/5/09 Weight, -282 gr. ' Loss in weight, -109 gr. = 27 9 per cent. 
From May 23rd kept in the open, immersed 
daily for 15 minutes in water. 
29/5/09 Weight, -242 gr. Further loss, "040 gr. = 10-2 per cent, of 
original weight. 
Total loss, 38-1 per cent. 
II. 
Kept dry in laboratory. 
16/5/09 Weight, -498 gr. 
23/5/09 Weight, -390 gr. Loss in weight, -108 gr. = 22-1 per cent. 
Kept further in the laboratory, but im- 
mersed daily in water for 15 minutes, 
except on the last day when immersion 
lasted 5 hours. 
29/5/09 Weight, -361 gr. Further loss, "039 gr. = 7-9 per cent, of 
original weight. 
Total loss, 30 per cent. 
It is strange that in the specimen in which the hairs were moistened 
daily, the loss of water was greater than in the one which was kept dry. 
The same curious result was obtained with Anacampseros filamentosa. 
Whether this is only a coincidence has to be decided by further experi- 
ment. In any case it seems clear that the plant cannot make use of 
water placed on the stellate hairs, nor does exposure to dew and 
immersion to the extent to which the plant was subjected make good 
the loss of water by transpiration. 
Anacampseros filamentosa, Sims. 
Two branches. 
1. 
Kept in laboratory, hairs moistened daily. 
16/5/09 Weight, 6-211 gr. 
23/5/09 Weight, 5-602 gr. Loss, -609 gr. = 9'8 per cent. 
26 
