Maturity of the plant

It will be seen that (1) the acidity decreases during the maturing of the plant (2) as in all the cases previously considered, oil of geranium becomes ricber in esters during vegetation (3) tbe proportion of total alcohol increases slightly and the quantity of free alcohol decreases, but not to an extent corresponding with the increase of esters, so that in the course of esterification, which takes place in this case without dehydration, a small quantity of alcohol is produced. 

L.) was also found, and was readily distinguishable by a brittleness of the culm which appeared only after maturity of the plant. This mutant had a lower cellulose content, and this difference was assumed to be related to the brittleness of the culm (24). Significant differences were also found in the extractability of the lignin fractions and associated phenolic acids (25-26), suggesting that lignin formation was also affected. 

The maturity of the plant at harvest can also have a bearing on the actives content of the raw material. If it is possible to control the supply line, then it may be possible to control the harvesting of the crop at a specified maturity otherwise... 

An examination of the seeds also enables one to determine something of the maturity of the plant when it was harvested. If they are round and dark, then they were probably harvested when resin and THC were roughly at their peak. If there are a lot of seeds that are smaller and yellower, then it was probably cut down early. Seeds from different locales can vary in size by a factor of two, with C. sativa varieties generally larger. C. tndica seeds are distinguished from those of C. sativa by Michael Starks like this ... 

Codeine, 14-hydroxycodeine, neopine, and O-methylflavinantine have been isolated from Papaver bracteatum,146 flavinantine and amurine from Meconopsis cambrica,113 isosinoacutine from Stephania elegans,174 and a new alkaloid, tridictyophylline, for which the structure (96) was determined by X-ray crystallography, from Triclisia dictyophylla.175 Bound morphine, codeine, and thebaine have been found in P. bracteatum and P. somniferum,176 and the effect of the period of maturation of the plants on the yield of these three alkaloids from P. somniferum has been studied.177,178 Codeine has been isolated from cell suspension cultures of P. somniferum under conditions where no morphine, norcodeine, or thebaine could be detected.179... 

For the purpose of enriching plants with stable isotopes, it was necessary to develop a hydroponic technique which requires a small amount of nutrient solution per plant and which maintains the same nutrient solution from the addition of the stable isotope until maturity of the plant. The expense of stable isotopes prohibits usings a great volume of nutrient solution or discarding nutrient solution before maximal uptake of the isotope is achieved. 

Narcotine has been found only in opium or in the source plant, Papaver somniferum L., the content in opium being of the order of 0.7 to 6.4% (95-98), although some Persian opium may contain as much as 11.2 % (99), while a Chinese variety of P. somniferum is stated to be devoid of this alkaloid (100) as well as of papaverine. The seeds contain detectable amounts of the alkaloid, and the content in the dried plant is from 0.008 to 0.276 % (101) and depends upon the state of maturity of the plant. The reported presence of narcotine in a number of fruits and vegetables and its confusion with vitamin C are erroneous, or at best unconfirmed (102-106). 

The rather simple solvent classification schemes yield complex fractions of botanochemicals. Their detailed composition depends not only on the species but also on maturity of the plant and the method of extraction (1 5, ). The polar fraction isolated by acetone extraction and readily soluble in 87.5% aqueous ethanol, termed "polyphenol" by Buchanan and coworkers (11,12), no doubt consists of phenolics and a wide variety of other substances. For plants of high tannin content, (e.g., Rhus g/aubra) the polyphenol fraction might well be called tannin (24)... 

Plant parts identified as "herb" consist of the leaf and stem of the identified plant, and this term is generally used only for non-woody plants. A plant part identified as "above-ground parts" means all of the plant above the ground, so it generally includes not only leaf and stem, but also flowers, fruits, and seeds, depending on the state of maturity of the plant at the time of harvest. All other plant parts (e.g., bark, leaf, root) are each identified with the generally used botanical term. 

The major areas of coal distribution are principally in the Northern Hanisphere with the exception of Australia, the southern continents are relatively deficient in coal deposits. This relatively uneven distribution is the result of the deposition and maturation of the plant at different times in the geological past in predominantly tropical latitudes, and the subseqnent drift of the continents to their present-day positions. The oldest coals of any economic significance date from the Middle Carboniferous Period— the earliest geological strata in which coal has been identified are of Devonian age bnt they are generally of little economic significance. With the exception of parts of the Triassic Period, major coal deposits have been forming somewhere in the world throughout the last 320 million years. Sedimentary sequences of the last 2-3 million years do not contain coal— there has been insufficient time for them to develop from plant debris. 

The sizes and densities of natural cellulose fibers vary considerably. Table 5.2 shows the typically lengths, diameters, and densities of natural cellulose fibers. The actual sizes and densities are affected by the farming technique, growth environment, geographical location and maturity of the plant. 

It is a linear glycuronoglycan that consists mainly of p-l,4-linked D-mannuronic and L-guluronic acid units in the pyranose ring form, the relative proportions of which vary with the botanical source and state of maturation of the plant. 

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