Journal of the Gujarat Research Society October 1949 & January 1950

The knowledge of plants' with many of their peculiarities was familiar to the ancient sages of India. and may -be traced up to the time of the Rigveda in which many plants are mentioned as necessary for the performance of religious ceremonies.192 JOURNAL OF THE GUJARAT RESEARCH SOCIETY The other vedas also mention the use of a large number of plants on similar occasions; in. [...] The leaves perform the very important work of transforming the weak solution of mineral salts which is passed up the stem from the roots into food for the plant. [...] Chlorophyll has the power of trapping the sun's beams and by means of the energy thus obtained of breakingoup the gas called carbon dioxide and deriving from it the carbon needed by plants. [...] The rise of moisture from the roots is regulated largely by constant evaporation from the surface of the leaves through the little mouths which are called stomata. [...] to the plant and compensating for the deficiency of oxygen in the water; there is minimum devlopment of the strengthening and the vascular specially xylem or wood tissues; (Pl.