260 PHAEMACOGNOSY [BoT. Absts., Vol. IX, 



smoke of the burning plant or by contact with substances that have the poisonous sap on them. 

 —E. W. Sinnott. 



1599. Maiden, J. H. The larkspurs as poisonous plants. Agric. Gaz. New South Wales 

 32: 326. 1921. — The article briefly reviews our knowledge of Delphiniums toxic to mammals 

 and insects. — L. R. Waldron. 



1600. Nestler, a. tJber den Nachweis von Rhinanthin im Mehl. [Identification of 

 rhinanthin in flour.] Zeitschr. Untersuch. Nahrungs- u. Genussmittel 39: 41-44. 1920. — 

 Rhinanthin is a glucoside from seeds of Alectorolophus hirsutus and Melampyrum arvense 

 with which meal may be adulterated, producing a blue or blue-green color in the presence of 

 acid. The result is known as "blue bread." Hydrochloric acid (5-10 per cent) is used in 

 the identification test described. — H . G. Barbour. 



1601. Petrie, J. M. Cyanogenesis in plants. Part IV. The hydrocyanic acid of Hetero- 

 dendron— a fodder plant of New South Wales. Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales 45: 447- 

 459. 1930. — Heterodendron oleaefolia Def. (Sapindaceae), an endemic Australian evergreen 

 tree or large shrub, has been much used for cattle feeding during drought, and many deaths 

 have resulted. It is popularly known as rosebush, whitewood, rosewood, western rosewood, 

 emubush, cabbagebush, boonery tree, dogwood, ironwood, bluebush, and bullockbush without 

 reference to the application of these names elsewhere. It was found to contain a cyanogenetic 

 glucoside yielding, when hydrolyzed, 0.328 per cent of hydrocyanic acid. It is therefore one 

 of the most poisonous cyanogenetic plants known, yielding more than twice as much hydro- 

 cyanic acid as bitter almonds. One ounce of the air-dried leaves forms a lethal amount for 

 1 sheep. The leaves are invariably found to be deficient in enzyme, and require the addition 

 of emulsin to bring about the complete decomposition of the glucoside. The foliage of the 

 wild orange, Capparis Mitchelli Lindl. (Capparidaceae), was also found to be cyanogenetic; 

 this is thought to be the 1st record in this family. Several of the Sapindaceae have been shown 

 to be cyanogenetic, including Ungnadia speciosa Endl. of Mexico and Texas. — Eloise Gerry. 



1602. Petrie, J. M. The chemical examination of Macrozamia spiralis Miq. Proc. Linn. 



Soc. New South Wales 45 : 424^42. 1920. — This cycad grows abundantly along the east coast 

 of New South Wales and has been regarded as a poisonous plant from the earliest days of the 

 colony. A summary of its poisonous record is given including many instances where it was 

 fatal to stock. The chemical composition of its leaves is characterized by a large amount of 

 amorphous resins. The following constituents were identified: Formic, acetic, valeric, and 

 lauric acids, also oleic, stearic, and higher fatty acids, and a very volatile essential oil; a 

 phytosterol (melting point 132°C., optical rotation— 34.5, melting point of acetate, 120°C.); 

 a paraffin, with the properties of triacontane, CsoHea; and an olefine having the properties 

 of octodecylene. The nuts contained 39 per cent of starch and much mucilage. In feeding 

 experiments, white rats were given, with their ordinary food, (1) the crushed fresh leaves, 

 (2) the grated seeds, (3) the rich, fatty, resinous components extracted from the leaves by 

 ether (which Dr. Lauterer stated contained the poisonous principle), and (4) the aqueous 

 extract of the leaves and the seeds (by which the aborigines believed the poison was removed). 

 The animals showed no signs of being affected after 3 weeks' feeding. The material was ap- 

 parently not poisonous to white rats and no active poison principle was isolated or identified. 

 With careless feeding, however, the animals are easily killed by impaction, which is due to the 

 fibrous nature of the material. — Eloise Gerry. 



1603. Phillips, E. P. The genus Bersama. Bothalia 1: 33-39. 1921.— The genus Ber- 

 sama was monographed by E. G. Baker (Jour. Bot. 45: 12. 1907) and 2 species were described 

 from South Africa. The interest in the various species was first aroused by Mr. C. C. Robert- 

 son, M. F., who sent samples of the bark to the Imperial Institute for examination, as it was 

 reported that the natives use the bark medicinally. Under the name B. tysoniana 3 species 

 have been included, B. tysoniana, B. Swinnti, and B. Stayneri. The bark of all is used medic- 

 inally by the natives. — E. P. Phillips. 



