On the Temporary Fading of Some Leaves when Exposed to the Sun

Abstract

FOR some time past I have taken much interest in this subject, since it at first seemed to indicate that chlorophyll in living plants could be decomposed by light in the same manner as when dissolved out from them by alcohol or other solvents. It also seemed to agree with the fact which I had established by comparative quantitative analysis, that leaves grown much exposed to the sun contain a relatively less amount of chlorophyll than those somewhat more shaded, in some cases even only one-third the quantity. My attention was first called to a