208 Angewandte Botanik. — Person alnachricht. 



* 



Spenee, D., Analysis of the Latex from Fiats Vogelii M\c{. 

 and of Memleku Rubber therefrom. (Quart. Journ. Inst. 

 Com. Research. Liverpool. III. p. 64 75. 1908.). 



Ficus Vogeliij a West African tree, is the source of a rubber 

 of inferior quality and of low commercial vahie. Analyses are given 

 of samples of latex received from the Gold Coast. The percentage 

 of resin was very high 32.9% in one sample, 37.84% in another. 

 The various constituents of the latex are considered in detail. 



W. G. Freeman. 



Spenee, D., Distribution of the Protein in Para Rubber, 

 and its relation to Weber's insoluble oxygenaddition 

 Compound of India Rubber. (Quart. Journ. Inst. Com. Research. 

 Liverpool. III. p. 47—60. ill. 1908.] 



Para Rubber (from Hevea brasüiensis) acted on by solvents does 

 not completely dissolve but leaves an often voluminous gelatinous 

 mass which Weber considered as an oxygen-addition Compound of 

 rubber and others have regarded as an isomeric modification. The 

 author brings physical and chemical evidence to show that this sub- 

 stance is really proteid in nature and that there is in Para Rubber 

 a fibrous or thread like protein network structure running Ihrough 

 the rubber and that this protein structure may be important in 

 giving certain physical properties to the mass. The paper has, 

 amongst other illustrations, drawings of microscopic sections of Para 

 Rubber. W. G. Freeman. 



Stapf, O., Ecanda Rubber {Raphioiiacme utilis Brown & Stapf)- 

 (Kew Bull. V. p. 209—15. 1 plate. 1908.) 



In 1906 Prof. C. E. de M. Geraides brought to notice a new 

 rubber plant known in Benguela as "Ecanda" or "Marianga". Later 

 from Mozambique apparently the same plant was reported under 

 the name "Bitinga". Specimens of the latter have been cultivated at 

 Kew and named Raphionaane utilis, Brown & Stapf. They are 

 dwarf herbaceous plants belonging to the Asclepiadaceae and are 

 peculiar amongst rubber plants in having turnip-shaped tubers, 

 (up to 4 inches high and 2 to b\ inches diameterj rieh in caoutchouc. 

 The Ecanda occurs in Benguela in the drier portions of treeless, 

 Sandy alluvial tracts between the rivers Kwanza and Zambese, 

 at elevation of from 4.000 to 5.000 feet. Processes for extracting and 

 coagulating the latex, none very satisfactory, are described and 

 analyses of the rubber recorded. Estimates by Prof. Geraides of 

 yield etc. are given but more Information is necessary on several 

 points before definite conclusions can be drawn. W. G. Freeman. 



Personalnaehrieht. 



Herr Prof. Dr. M. Treub, Director des Botanischen Gartens 

 und des Agriculturdepartements in Buitenzorg ist in den Ruhe- 

 stand getreten und wird Ende dieses Jahres repatriiren. 



A-iasgegeben : S-* August 1909. 



Verlag von Gustav Fischer in Jena. 

 Buchdruckerei A. W. Si.jthoff in Leiden. 



