1 46 GHENOPODIACEM 



which might be present- The purified ether extract dried to a 

 yellow varnish; the solution in sulphuric acid gave a very 

 marked yellowish precipitate with Mayer's reagent; a white 

 precipitate with alkalies; with Frohde's reagent, a precipitate 

 first yellowish, rapidly changing to pale blue, and darkening, 

 on standing or warming, to deep prussian blue ; chromate of 

 potash gave a yellow precipitate; bichromate of potash and 

 concentrated sulphuric acid, a dirty orange-red ; ferric chloride 

 no reaction ; the solution was destitute of any bitter taste. 



sulphate 



purificat 



Finally the original alkaline aqueous solution was acidulated 

 with sulphuric acid, and agitated with amylic alcohol. On 

 eyaporating off the amylic alcohol, a deep orange-red varnish 

 was left, partly soluble in water with strong acid reaction, the 

 solution giving an olive-brown coloration with ferric 'chloride; 



no 



with 



alkalies ; a brig]\t yellow precipitate with basic acetate of lead ; 

 and it reduced Fehling's solution on boiliug. The residue, 

 insoluble in water, was dissolved by ammonia, forming a deep 

 orange-yellow solution from which acids afforded a whitish 

 precipitate, the yellow colour being destroyed. 



SPINACIA OLERACEA,^^: 



inn. 



Fig.— Lamk. Encyel, /. 814 j Wight Ic, L 818. Spinach 

 {Eng.), Epinard {Fr.). Syn. S. tetrandra, Stev. 



Hab. — Persia. Cultivated in India. The herb and fruit. 



Fer/iacMZar.— Palak {Hind.), Pdlang [Beng.), Yusayley-keeray 

 ( Tarn, ) . 



History, Uses, &C.— This potherb is a native of Persia ; 

 it is described in the Persian Bm-ym under the name of ^Lia . 

 (ispanakh) as a potherb much used in broth. The name is 

 now often incorrectly pronounced Ispan&j by the Persians, and 

 Isfat .aj or Isjin^j by the Arabs. The plant has been 



M9 



I 



introdu 



into 



* 



