TWENTY-FOUBTH ANNUAL MEETING. 21 



sterile (probably only seedlings), appearing later, are the exception. Nor is this 

 species so choice as to habitat, for it is very abundant over all north-facing slopes, 

 whether open and grassy or wooded. In fact, it is found in places where E. albidum 

 could not be made to grow. 



To recapitulate: The points most especially to be noted as marking the species 

 are, early appearance, more slender aspect throughout, leaves unmottled, perianth 

 only half refiexed at most, flowering forms vastly more numerous than sterile and 

 appearing first, corm rather bulb-like and without runners, and range of habitat 

 more extended. Indeed, the points of difference between this form and E. albidum 

 are more numerous and more marked than between E. albidum Nutt. and. £. Ameri- 

 canum Smith. 



EXA3IINATI0N OF SOLANUM ROSTRATUM. 



BY W. S. AMOS AND L. E. SAYBE, PH. G., LAWKENCE. 



The common bull nettle of the fields and roadsides, Solamim rostratum. is one of 

 the common weeds belonging to the natural order Solanacece, familiar to every one 

 -—so familiar that any minute description is quite unnecessary. It is very prickly 

 in all parts of the plant; hoary, with a copious woolly, stellate pubescence. It has 

 been our purpose to ascertain whether the plant contained any large per cent, of 

 alkaloid similar to that of other species obtained from this order, such as hyoscya- 

 mus, stramonium, belladonna, tobacco, etc. 



For the purpose of this investigation, the leaves and leafy tops were selected, and 

 subjected to the following treatment: The air-dried powder was subjected to the 

 temperature of 110 degrees centigrade, in a drying oven, until it ceased to lose 

 weight. The powder, by this treatment, lost 15. .5 per cent., which was estimated as 

 moisture. Two grams of the powder were incinerated in a platinum capsule, and 

 the ashes treated with hydrochloric acid and water; the solution, upon examination, 

 gave reaction indicating the presence of calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, alumi- 

 num, silica, phosphoric acid. The powder treated with ether by continuous perco- 

 lation yielded an extract 3.26 per cent. This extract was of a deep green color, with 

 a resinous, oleaginous and bland taste; odor, strong and hay-like. It consisted 

 mainly of coloring matter and inert resin. The residual powder left after treatment 

 with ether in a continuous percolator was treated with alcohol; the alcoholic tinc- 

 ture was evaporated to dryness, leaving a dark green extract having a heavy nar- 

 cotic odor, very sharp and oleaginous taste. The yield of alchoholic extract was 

 6.14 per cent. This alcoholic extract was treated with water acidulated with sul- 

 phuric acid, and filtrated, the filtrate rendered alkaline by ammonia and shaken with 

 ether in a separator. The ethereal layer was separated and evaporated, yielding an 

 extract .98 per cent. The color of this ethereal extract was greenish, the odor 

 quite narcotic. Under the lens, small, feathery crystals could be seen. A small por- 

 tion of the extract was incinerated on a platinum foil, which left a very minute resi- 

 due. The extract was again treated with acidulated water, to dissolve out any of the 

 alkaloid, and bring it into a pure state. The solution thus made was treated with 

 various alkaloidal reagents — potassio-mercuric iodide, phospho-molybdic acid, tan- 

 nic acid, platinic chloride — which gave unmistakable signs of the presence of the 

 alkaloid. On evaporating the acidulated solution over sulphuric acid on a watch 

 crystal, and examining under a one-inch objective, numerous minute crystals, acicu- 

 lar and in bundles, were seen. 



