Irregularities in the Rate of Absorption by Dry Plant Tissues

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Abstract
Using methods described in previous papers, exps. were conducted with pea cotyledons; seed of Zea mays, Xanthium, Hibiscus, and Gossypium; and fruiting bodies of Au-ricularia auricula-judae. Perfectly regular absorption of water by the dry plant material was exceptional. The irregularities are ascribed mainly to 4 causes: formation of internal cavities during imbibition; development of osmotically active solutions within differently permeable membranes; non-homogeneity in experimental material; and hydrolysis of colloidal substances of pectic nature. Exception is taken to the term "double optimum" for describing such irregularities.