ON THE OCCURRENCE OF CYANOPflORIC 



GLUCOSIDES IN THE FLOWERS OF SOME 



PROTEACEAE. 



By F. Smith, B.Sc, F.I.C, and C. T. White, F.L.S. 



{Read before the Royal Society of Queensland, 31sf May, 1920). 



In a previous paper ^ we have already drawn attention 

 to the occurrence of hydrocyanic acid in the flowers of two 

 Proteaceae Grevillca Banksii and Lomatia silaifolia, from 

 the fohage of which it is absent. As fresh material has 

 become available we have further investigated various 

 Proteaceae, especially with a view to determining the dis- 

 tribution of cyanophoric glucosides in the floral members, 

 and the results to be here cited appear to us worthy of 

 notice as being phytochemically new. 



The following are summarised accounts o" the reactions 

 with the floral parts of various Proteaceae examined since 

 the pubUcation of our last paper. 



Grevillea Banksii R. Br. HCN. 



Foliage, floral rhachis, pedicels, anthers, 



hypogynous glands j Negative reactions. 



Petals, ovary, style and stigma, capsules, i Strong positive reaction s. 

 seed. 



! 



Dry capsules (from which the seed had ' 



been shed) Positive reaction. 



The reaction of the green capsules was especially 

 strong, an amygdalous odour being pronounced when the 

 material was cut up. 



