Pharmaceutisches und Chemisches. 575 



V. Neu beschrieben werden Dryas octopetala L. forma sneinicensis 

 Derganc und Gnaphalium leontopodium (L.) Scop. var. krasensis Dergane, 

 beide aus dem Gebiet des liburnischen Karstes in Innerkrain. 



Wangerin. 



Keegan, P. Q., TheChemistrv ofSomeCommon Plants. 

 (Naturalist. Vol. XXVIII. 1903. p. 229—232.) 



Lycopodium Selago Linn. The vegetative organs contain 

 about 3 per cent. of wax and some Cholesterin and Carotin, 

 but no resin or glyceride. The alcoholic extract (after benzine) 

 contains no tannin or phloroglucin, but yields a glucosidal 

 bitter principle. The water extracts contain albuminoids, muci- 

 lage, sugars, pentosans and a mixture of starch and amylo- 

 dextrins. The spores contain about 47 per cent. of glycerides, 

 free fatty acids and phytosterin ; also wax, sugar and mucilage, 

 together with the nitrogenous principle pollenin. 



Scilla fesialis Salisb. occurs chiefly in si'iceous soils and 

 shuns lime. The bulbs contain inulin and starch, and a great 

 quantity of mucilaginous substance yielding levulose and glucose 

 on treatment with dilute acids. Apparently starch is never 

 produced in the leaves. 



Rumex obtusifolius Linn. The root contains starch, muci- 

 lage, resin, tannin and phloroglucins. When cut the root 

 assumes a bright yellow colour owing to the presence of various 

 derivations of anthraquinone allied to alkannin. About the first 

 of August the leaves contain much Carotin wax, quercetin and 

 tannin, free phloroglucin. Starch, levulose and a quantity of 

 Calcium pectate, but little or no fat or resin. The brilliant 

 red of the autumn leaves is due to Carotin in addition to ery- 

 throphyll. The process of deassimilation is advanced to an 

 unusual degree for a British plant, high hydrocarbon residues 

 being formed. In the respect R. obtusifolius resembles many 

 tropical plants. 



Scrophularia nodosa Linn. Contains free cinnamic acid a 

 body not known to occur in any other British plant. In the 

 leaves much Carotin, free palmitic and butyric acids, resin and 

 choline occur. 



Centaurea nigra Linn. The bitter taste of this plant is 

 due to cnicin which appears to be a Compound of resin and 

 some impure carbohydrate. The leaves contain much Carotin, 

 wax, resin and fatty oil; no levulose or little starch, but much 

 calcium Oxalate. The flowers contain a bitter principle. In 

 the Compositae as a group the process of deassimilation is in- 

 complete and although a large quantity of tannin is produced 

 there is very appreciable evidence of volatile oils, resins and 

 bitter principles. 



Geranium pratense Linn. The root of this plant is found 

 to contain more than 10 per cent. of tannin. 



E. Drabble (London). 



