The butoxyethanol and propylene glycol butyl esters of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) were applied to and recovered from the leaf surfaces of garden bean and corn plants. Both the acid and the ester of 2,4-D were recovered, indicating that hydrolysis of the esters had occurred. The acid and esters of 2,4-D were also found in both leaves and stems of the bean plants, indicating that further hydrolysis had occurred within the plants. Bean plant homogenates incubated with 2,4-D esters yielded 2,4-D acid. The root exudate from corn plants treated with 2,4-D butoxyethanol ester showed the presence of both acid and ester.