(1

Dec. 22d 1881. — Primula acaulis — Roots

left in C. of A. 4 to 1000 from 2° 15' P.m 18 h to 8° 15' a.m showed great aggregation in most of the roots, except some of the thinnest ones. The granular matter, not brown filled many of the epidermic cells, only occasionally showing some tendency to alternation with empty cells. This granular matter generally consisted of an oval bag (the contracted primordial utricle) or of 2 or even 3 oval or spherical bags in the same cell. In the midrib of the contained granular matter there were sometimes large spheres. Wherever the epidermic cells were empty, these Hairs abounded & where many granular matter was present within cell no Hair. This was observed in scores of cases by tracing hair to base; Such Hairs were extremely numerous. Nevertheless one cell or even 2 or 3 with oval bag containing granular mater apparently was producing a nascent root-hair, & again I thought that granular matter might be formed for walls of Hairs — besides the epidermic cells, here & there

(2

Primrose

a single cell in middle of parenchyma was gorged with coarse granular & more or less confluent globules, which are oft generally hyaline & colourless, but were formerly found to be of a rich blue — To day I found only a trace yet distinct of blueness & one cell green & another yellowish.— Again close round vascular bundle many elongated cells in single rows with hyaline more less confluent, rather coarse globules. F. thought starch.

Dec. 23d examined without slicing roots kept in water for 48° & plant had grown close to pile of decayed leaves.

In one root many epidermic cells contain oval & spherical bags (sometimes containing an inner sphere), very closely similar to the epidermic cells, after ammonia! I cannot conceive what they are. They look like spores or eggs!! I could see no agg. masses in parenchyma or endoderm cells.— Many shrunk primordial utricles.

(3

Primrose

Dec. 23d

Irrigation during 65' with 7 to 1000 produced no marked effect. — After 22° in the sol. some dark blue central cells with æ

I looked at the former root which had now been nearly 48° in sol. & in one roots mo many isolated cells with dark blue globular masses.

I irrigated the long & transverse slices examined yesterday not those grown near leaf-root with the iodine — (but before the iodine several of the agg mass in parenchyma & endoderm were greenish) & the agg. masses in the parenchyma & endoderm cells were not coloured, so are not starch.— Granular mater in epidermic cells reduced orange brown. — A cell, mentioned yesterday, with nascent root-bag Hair & yet full of granular matter which entered a little way the brown of the Hair, was very clear— so good exception.— Adjoining cell, had shrunk utricle entering the nascent Hair but no granular matter.—

[3v]

agg. matter which were not present yesterday.— These so-called parasitic eggs in same state; these are so numerous that I cannot believe that they are eggs or spores but I am quite puzzled.

(4

Primrose — Roots

Dec. 24th examined 3 roots & in 2 thicker ones no trace of agg in epidermis & I feel sure that I shd have seen any in control cells. — The thinner root, brownish brownish & appearing dead & filled with globules, I do not doubt starch. (25th These 3 roots rexamined & afterwards dissected after 24° in 4 to 1000. & I can see no trace of aggregation in epidermic cells from tip to base. Therefore all former appearances false. On other hand in parenchyma cells here & there a dark or pale blue one, more or less near the vascular bundle but in endoderm. These blue cells contain starch grains & granular matter. This is the sole curious phenomenon in the roots of Primula acaulis. No in the thin roots, looking old, & stuffed with starch grain, even in extremely thin sub-rootlets. these blue cells have appeared. In some of such rootlets, however, many of the parenchyma cells were filled with orange granular matter & in those I cd see no starch æ

5)

F. made yesterday slices of other fresh roots, (not left in water, nor were those just described) & no agg. visible, they were irrigated with 7 to 1000 for 23° & now (25th) they show no agg. in epidermis, nor any blue cells — So that I may now feel certain that the blue cells do not exist before the application of the C. of Amm: —