ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY, MICROSCOPY, ETC. 
475 
In the seeds of the same plant were found also two other non-nitrogcnous 
reserve-substances, viz. /?-galactan and a fatty oil. 
Cellulose-formation and Growth of Protoplasm without a Nucleus.'" 
— In opposition to the statement of Klebs,‘j' Herr E. Palla finds that the 
formation of cellulose and growth in length are not necessarily associated 
with the presence of a nucleus. Pollen-tubes, as those of Leucojum 
vernum , Galanthus nivalis , and other plants, the apices of which with 
their nuclei have been destroyed, still form a cap of cellulose round the 
protoplasm, or the protoplast breaks up into separate portions, each of 
which surrounds itself with a cell-wall. Protoplasm which has exuded 
may even sometimes clothe itself with a cell-wall and develope into a 
pollen-tube. Similar observations were made on leaves of Elodea and 
on root-hairs. 
Intercellular Substance.^ — M. L. Mangin endeavours to show that 
in Phanerogams and Cryptogams (Fungi and many Algae excepted) the 
tissues with soft elements are built up of cells united together by means 
of a cement formed of pectic acid in the state of insoluble pectates. 
The author calls this cement the intercellular substance, and its 
chemical nature may be shown in the following manner. Fragments of 
various organs (roots, leaves, flowers, &c.) must be allowed to macerate 
for twenty-four hours in alcohol, to which a fourth or fifth part of its 
bulk of hydrochloric acid has been added. The tissues are then washed 
and placed in an alkaline solution, and shortly, when the fragments of 
tissues have had time to become impregnated with the solvent, a slight 
agitation will dissociate them. If the liquid be now filtered and acid 
added, a gelatinous mass will be obtained which shows the characters 
of pectic acid. In order to examine tissues microscopically, thin sections 
of adult organs must be taken and coloured with phenosafranin or 
methylene-blue, after having been acted on by alcohol and hydrochloric 
acid. The insoluble pectic acid is coloured more strongly than the 
pectic compounds associated with the cellulose in the thickness of the 
membrane. 
The author concludes by stating that intercellular substance formed 
of insoluble pectates is separated at an early period in merismatic 
tissues ; its partial transformation into soluble pectates allows of lamel- 
lation of the cell- wall, and the formation of passages in adult tissues ; 
by a sort of exudation, it forms bodies which strengthen the surface of 
union of the cells, and increase the solidity of the tissues. 
Action of Oxidized Solution of Green Vitriol on living Cells. §— 
Herr T. Bokorny finds that a very dilute solution of iron sulphate 
(1 : 5000 to 1 : 10,000), when oxidized in the air, does not kill the proto- 
plasm of Spirogyra. While turgor, the chlorophyll-band, and the 
nucleus remain unchanged, an excretion of granules (active albumin) 
takes place in the parietal protoplasm. From these facts he argues in 
favour of his previous conclusion as to the presence of hydrogen 
peroxide in the living cell. 
* Ber. Deutsch. Bot. Gcsell., vii. (1889) pp. 330-1. 
f Cf. this Journal, 1888, p. 758. + Comptes Bendus, cx. (1890) pp. 295-7. 
§ Ber. Deutscb. Bot. Gesell., vii. (1889) pp. 274-G. 
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