to 1312 and 1750 of water, apparently killed the leaves (the tentacles
after a time being bowed backwards), and rendered the glands white, but
caused no inflection.
Gallic, Tannic, Tartaric, and Citric Acids.—One part to 437 of water.
Three or four leaves were immersed, each in thirty minims of these four
solutions, so that each leaf received 1/16 of a grain, or 4.048 mg. No
inflection was caused in 24 hrs., and the leaves did not appear at all
injured. Those which had been in the tannic and tartaric acids were
placed in a solution (1 gr. to 20 oz.) of phosphate of ammonia, but no
inflection ensued in 24 hrs. On the other hand, the four leaves which
had been in the citric acid, when treated with the phosphate, became
decidedly inflected in 50 m. and strongly inflected after 5 hrs., and
so remained for the next 24 hrs.
Malic Acid.—Three leaves were immersed in ninety minims of a solution
of one part to 437 of water; no inflection was caused in 8 hrs. 20 m.,
but after 24 hrs. two of them were considerably, and the third
slightly, inflected—more so than could be accounted for by the action
of water. No great amount of mucus was secreted. They were then placed
in water, and after two days partially re-expanded. Hence this acid is
not poisonous.
Oxalic Acid.—Three leaves were immersed in ninety minims of a solution
of 1 gr. to 437 of water; after 2 hrs. 10 m. there was much inflection;
glands pale; the surrounding fluid of a dark pink colour; after 8 hrs.
excessive inflection. The leaves were then placed in water; after about
16 hrs. the tentacles were of a very dark red colour, like those of the
leaves in acetic acid. After 24 additional hours, the three leaves were
dead and their glands colourless.
Benzoic Acid.—Five leaves were immersed, each in thirty minims of a
solution of 1 gr. to 437 of water. This solution was so weak that it
only just tasted acid, yet, as we shall see, was highly poisonous to
Drosera. After 52 m. the submarginal [page 195] tentacles were somewhat
inflected, and all the glands very pale-coloured; the surrounding fluid
was coloured pink. On one occasion the fluid became pink in the course
of only 12 m., and the glands as white as if the leaf had been dipped
in boiling water. After 4 hrs. much inflection; but none of the
tentacles were closely inflected, owing, as I believe, to their having
been paralysed before they had time to complete their movement. An
extraordinary quantity of mucus was secreted. Some of the leaves were
left in the solution; others, after an immersion of 6 hrs. 30 m., were
placed in water. Next morning both lots were quite dead; the leaves in
the solution being flaccid, those in the water (now coloured yellow) of
a pale brown tint, and their glands white.
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