The fine structure of phloem fibres I. Untreated and swollen hemp

Abstract

During an anatomical study of the jute and hemp plants carried out by one of us (B. C. K.), the opportunity was taken of reinvestigating in these plants the structure of the walls of the fibres, using the term “fibre” in its botanical sense. The so-called “bast” fibres are of particular interest in wall studies since it was apparently on the basis of their investigation that the “crossed fibrillar” conception was first introduction. Thus we find Reimers (1922) stating that in a number of plants, including hemp, the walls of these fibres are composed of two or more layers differing considerably in cellulose-Chain direction. Since that time numerous other statement of this kind have been made for different types of cell (Freudenberg and Dürr 1932; Ritter 1930; Ritter and Chidester 1928; Bailey and Kerr 1935); v. Iterson 1937; Wuhrmann-Meyer 1939). It seems rather a common feature of the evidence quoted in support of such a structure that it is derived from material swollen considerably either in acid or alkali. Certainly the optical properties of the wall have been used in support (Freudenberg and Durr 1932; Bailey and Kerr 1935 v. Iterson 1937; Wuhrmann-Meyer 1939). It seems rather a common feature of the evidence quoted in support of such a structure that it is derived from material swollen considerably either in acid or alkali. Certainly the optical properties of the wall have been used in support (Freudenberg and Durr 1932; Bailey and Kerr 1935 v. Iterson 1937; Wuhrmann-Meyer 1939). It seems rather a common feature of the evidence quoted in support of such a structure that it is derived from material swollen considerably either in acid or alkali. Certainly the optical properties of the wall have been used in support (Freudenberg and Durr 1932; Bailey and Kerr 1935; v. Iterson 1937; Wuhrmann-Meyer 1939). It seems rather a common feature of the evidence quoted in support of such a structure that it is derived from material swollen considerably either in acid or alkali. Certainly the optical properties of the wall have been used in support (Freudenberg and Dürr 1932; Bailey and Kerr 1935) but the implication of such work have already been discussed elsewhere (Preston 1939a). We are here concerned chiefly with the swelling technique. While it is not to be suggested that treatment with swelling reagents totally invalidates all observations of this type, it is quite clear that in some cases at least observation of swollen material can give an entirely erroneous conception of the wall in its natural condition. This is perhaps particularly clear in the case of jute, for which Osborne (1935, quoted also by Barker 1938) refers to the fibres as being composed of a series of chains lying at a considerable angle to the longitudinal axis of the cell, in spite of contrary X-ray evidence.