408 
indications of saponin: the extract frothed a good deal and had an 
acrid taste. 
Davailia is an addition to the as yet small number of cyano- 
genetic ferns which have become known since m discovery of 
HCN in Prteris aquilina, L., in 1908. Notes on Davallia as drug 
or poison are rare ; the foliage of D. trifoliata, Sw., is regarded as 
a diuretic and expectorant and is used in the West Indies in 
lung disease. 
Sieb., and D. setchuenensis, F ranch., which also proved to contain 
Although it is a well-known genus of ornamental shrubs, no 
species of Deutzia had as yet been submitted to analysis. 
Deyeuxia (Gramineae). 
The grass D. Langsdorffii, Kunth, contains saponin. A system- 
atic investigation of the distribution of saponin in Grasses would 
rth while; according to numerous laboratory notes which I 
made at Haarlem this substance seems to be of rather wide-spread 
occurrence in the leaves of grasses, 
The roots of D. Halleriana, Vasey, ave considered a diuretic. 
Diervilla (Caprifoliaceae), | 
The leaves of j 
Dimorphotheca (Compositae). 
D. Ecklonis, DC., contains much hydrocyanic acid. In the leaf 
of this plant and in the seed of D. pluvialis, Moench., I found 
his genus was first recognised as cyanogenetic by Couperot in 
1908; he examined D. pluvialis, Moench., in the leaves of which I 
too found HCN at Kew, both in the plants cultivated under that 
name and in the variety D. hybrida, DC. t present the 
to contain hydrocyanic acid : 
Anacyclus, Anthemis, Aplotazxis, Centaurea, Chardinia, Cirsium, 
Pyrethrum, Xeranthemum. 
_was able to demonstrate hyd 
with Guignard’s test. Furthe 
eating” of insects by this plant. 
Frankfurt a- - I received material of another rare Droseracea, 
namely Drosophyllum lusitanicum, Link. This plant was also found 
to contain appreciable quantities of hydrocyanic acid. 
