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THE CHEMISTRY OF SOME COMMON PLANTS. 
Pe iQ. kn EGAN Lo. 
Patterdale, Westmorland. 
Wounpwort (Stachys sylvatica). This vigorous perennial 
flourishes in spring and summer in thickets and wood-edges, 
and occasionally sprouts forth in great force from cinder 
heaps and refuse gatherings. The rhizome puts forth sub- 
terranean creeping branches, forming aerial stems provided 
with adventive roots at their base after the flowering period. 
On July 8th the entire leaves dried yielded 2-3 per cent. benzene 
extract, consisting of considerable carotin with some fat-oil, 
wax, andresin. The alcoholic extract contains a tannoid with 
a quinol nucleus, its ammoniacal solution turns deep brown in 
air ; there was no glucose, and only a little cane-sugar. Much 
mucilage was extracted by hot water and dilute alkali, but 
no proteid; there was some glucoside, acid-soluble proteid, 
and much oxalate of calcium, but no reserve starch. There 
was II per cent. of ash in dry, which contained 34:2 per cent. 
soluble salts, 7-9 silica, 25-2 lime, 7 magnesia, 6-6 P?O%, 7-4 
Cl., and 2.7 SO?; there was only a little manganese, and a 
moderate amount of soluble carbonate. The leaf mesophyll 
has only three layers of cells, but they all contain chlorophyll, 
which is crystalline according to Willstatter. These con- 
ditions seem to be favourable to the development both of fat- 
oil and volatile oil, but induce apparently a shortage of tannin. 
When Labiates grow vigorously, and have sufficient moisture 
and sunlight, they produce large quantities of volatile oil, but 
plants in a poor condition and of stunted growth contain only 
oleo-resin. The volatile oil of the Woundwort seems to consist 
mostly of derivatives of cymene. 
BoGBEAN (Menyanthes trifoliata). This inhabitant of peat 
bogs is found most frequently in pools where the surrounding 
soil is wanting in lime, 7.e., in acid humus. The rhizome is of 
very singular structure, it is formed of rings close together, from 
which the leaf buds spring forth incessantly, its central portion 
is absolutely similar to that of aquatic Monocotyledons, its 
cortex and pith have air spaces, and their cells contain reserves 
(inulin mostly and no starch); the roots are provided with 
hairs (often wanting in bog plants), and have no mycorhiza. 
The leaves have an extremely lacunar mesophyll; and a con- 
siderable power of transpiration. On 14th June the dried 
leaves yielded 1:5 per cent. wax, with much carotin; they 
contain also a considerable quantity of caffeetannin (a very 
interesting fact) and a resin dissolving in sulphuric acid deep 
brown passing to a splendid red, also a bitter principle named 
menyanthin ; there was no sugar, but some inulin, reserve 
starch, and soluble proteid, no ordinary mucilage or pararabin, 
Naturalist, 
