Chemisch-pharmaceut. Botanik. — Agriculttir u. Horticultur. 591 



of Burma. Besides Chaulmoogric acid and a small c|iiantity of 

 Palmitic acid the seeds contain soine lower homologues of the former, 

 belonging to the series Cn H.>n— i O2. 



The fatty oil of the seeds of Gymnocardia odorata R. Br. appears 

 to be 'of very different character. E. Drabblc (Liverpool). 



Power, F. B. and D. H. Lees, The Constituents of the essen- 

 tiai oil of Californian Laurel. (journ. Chem. Soc. London. 

 Vol. LXXXV. p. 629-639. 1904.) 



The Essential oil of Californian Laure! Umbellularia callfornica 

 Nuttall has the following composition : Eugenol 1,7"/.,, 1-Pinene 6,07'>, 

 Cineol 20'Vo umbellulone 60'Vo, Saffrole, a very small quantity, Eugenol 

 methyl Ether 10"/,. fatty acids including formic acid, a very small 

 amcunt. E. Drabble (Liverpool). 



O'Slllivan, J., AComparison of the Products ofHydrolysis 

 Ol Potato Starch with those obtained from Cereal 

 Starches. (Journ. Chem. Soc. London. Vol. LXXXV. p. 616 

 — o2o. 1904.) 



The following starches were used : potato-starch, malt-starch, 

 barley-starch, maize-starch, rice-starch and Lintner's starch. 



Cnder similar conditions of hydrolysis with diastase or malt- 

 extract the results from potato-starch showed no quantitative re- 

 lationship with those obtained from the other starches. The percen- 

 tage composition of the products of the other starches could not 

 be inferred from the results obtained by hydrolysis of potato starch. 



E. Drabble (Liverpool). 



BuRtvSLL, Th., Bambana Ground Nut. (Kew Bulletin. 1906. 

 p. *>S— 70.) 



The plant receives its name from Bambana on the Upper 

 Niger. It is widely cultivated throughout Africa and elsewhere 

 but does not enter into commerce to any extent. Analyses of the 

 seeds are quoted; starch is the principal constituent, but the 

 composition approximates closely to the theoretical requirements of 

 a complete food. 



Voandzeia subterranea belongs to the Legnminosae and in many 

 respects is very similar to Arachis hypogea the ordinary ground nut. 

 It is used by natives as a food. W. G. Freeman. 



HfiLüER], T. M., Chinese Wood Oil. (Kew Bulletin. 1906. p. 117 

 — 119.) 



The commercially important Chinese wood oil, usually considered 

 as being derived from Aleurites cordata^ is really obtained from 

 A. Fordii a very distinct species, although A. cordata yields a 

 similar product. 



Mr. W. B. Hemsley reviews the synonymy of the species of 

 Aleurites. W. G. Freeman. 



HiLLJER, T. M., Colorado Rubber. (Kew Bulletin. 1906. p. 218 

 -219.) 



This plant of Colorado has been identified as Picradenia 

 floribiinda (Compositae), but Picradenia appears to be a subgenus 



