430 THE CHEMICAL EXAMINATIOX OF MACROZAMIA ISPIRALIS, 



The various organic solvents removed in solution the following amounts: — 



Air-dried leaves. 



1. retrulfuui spirit (Ij.p. luuli-r 50^) extracted 1.19% 



2. Ether „ 1.2ti 



3. Chloroform „ 6.04 



4. Ethyl alcohol „ 13.08 



5. Water „ 7.GU 



Total soluble substances 29 . 17 % 



A portion of the leaves was specially te.sted for alkaloids by extracting with 

 ehloroform-ether-alcohol mixture. The extract, after removal of the solvents, 

 was heated with dilute acid, and on applying the characteristic tests for alkaloids 

 gave entirely negative results. 



Another portion of the leaf-powder was treated specially for the isolation 

 of oxalic acid or oxalates, and these were proxed to be absent. 

 Proximate Composition of the Suts. 

 The bright red ovules or seeds were collected and used in the fresh condition. 

 One average ovule consisted of: — 



Soft red outer cover 10 gms. 



Hard shell 2 ,, 



Soft white kernel 6 „ 



Total weight 18 „ 



These kernels eontained a harder core in the centre, and were easily cut like 

 a potato. When they were grated down they became a sticky pulp, resembling 

 thin dough, mixed with much mucilage. Exposed to the air, the pulp soon 

 became dry and brittle, and was then easily powdered in a mortar. A portion of 

 this was extracted with alcoliol. which dissolved out a small amount of fixed oil, 

 and then extracted with water. The insoluble residue from this extraction was 

 dried and weighed. In a second portion the nitrogen was estimated by Ivjel- 

 dahl's method. In a third portion a careful examination was made for salts of 

 oxalic acid . This was subsequently repeated with a much larger sample, and 

 the minute precipitates carefully examined under the polarising microscope, but 

 in none of these were any of tlie characteristic calcium oxalate crystals seen. 



A large sample was washed in a muslin cloth under cold water, after which 

 the white starch which deposited was dried and weighed, likewise the insoluble 

 fibrous residue in the cloth was sep.irated and weighed. The aqueous solution 

 contained a considerable amount of a thick gelatinous slime, or mucilage. 

 Compoaitinn of the Kernels or Seeds of the Mfiero~nmia Xiits. 



Calculated on 

 Fresh Kernel. Dried at 100° 



Water 426 To — 



Ash 1.0 1.7% 



Extracted bv alcohol (oili .. .. 4.2.5 7.4 



hot water 4.2 7.3 



Insoluble residue 4S.0 83.6 



100.0 100.0 



Nitrogen 1.8% 3.2% 



Starch .39.0 68.0 



Residue left in cloth (fibrel .. .. 15.1 26.3 



