Genus Statice as represented at Blakeney Point . /. 253 
As has been noted by Wilson, the gland cells are very rich in protoplasm, 
finely granular in appearance, and they contain a very large nucleus. The 
mucilage secreted by the hairs appears to be associated with tannin, a phe- 
nomenon which does sometimes occur in the case of mucilage secreting 
hairs ; 1 moreover tannin is commonly abundant throughout the plant. The 
physiological significance of tannin in the life of the plant is a difficult ques- 
tion, and its function appears to vary in different species . 2 Sachs concluded 
that tannin resulted from intense metabolism such as occurs in rapid tissue 
formation, in vegetative apices and in association with secreting organs, and 
its presence in the mucilage glands of Statice may be accounted for in this 
Text-fig. 6. Mucilage gland from the base of the leaf sheath of S. binervosa. x 290. 
A. = gland in surface view ; B. = gland in transverse section. c. = cuticle ; s. - stalk-cells ; 
b. = basal cells ; n. — nucleus. 
way. The question of the further distribution of the tannin throughout the 
plant will be dealt with later. 
Mettenius or Licopoli Glands? 
The second type of gland occurs on both surfaces of the leaf and on 
the inflorescence axis of all members of the order. 
The structure of the gland was incorrectly described by Mettenius 4 in 
1 Haas, P., and Hill, 1 . G. : An Introduction to the Chemistry of Plant Products. Longmans, 
Green & Co., 1913, p. 125. 
d he following microchemical reactions invariably gave good results: 
(a) A strong aqueous solution ot potassium bichromate gave a brownish coloured precipitate. 
(A) A neutral solution of ferric chloride gave a blue-black coloration. 
2 Loc. cit., pp. 2 14-2 2 1. 
These glands aie commonly called chalk glands, since in some species calcium carbonate is 
excreted by them ; this does not occur in any of the British species of Statice . 
4 Mettenius : Filiees Hort. Bot. Lips., 1856, p. 10. (Not consulted.) 
