Colloid Substrate in Photosynthesis

Abstract

A FEW years ago I showed¹ that mineral arboreal growth results in an almost simultaneous appearance of a compact (tree- and asbestos-like formations) and dispersed (‘streamers’ and opacity bands) system. Afterwards the range of mineral tree formations was extended from the ferrocyanide and silicate group of salts to calcium, barium, strontium, arsenates, arsenites, stannates, etc.² Since then, it has been found that the dispersed system formation is not only specific to all arboreal growth but also invariably precedes it, being evolved in the course of eruption from the membrane protuberances—diffusion points of least resistance. Again, whilst the delicate ‘streamers’ and opacity bands exist only under carefully controlled conditions, the colloidal particles constituting these and shot out in myriads during the reaction have a much wider range of stability.