THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 59 



" The brown variety was only found, as has been already remarked, 

 in the wild Amorphophallus, These crystals were very fine ; about one- 

 third the size of the first. They were also acicular, but did not show 

 a double contour. They were found in the cells arranged in sheaves, 

 and were distinctly brown when viewed in a mass. On adding a 

 drop of water to the juice of the tuber, these cells swelled up and 

 discharged the crystals. When examined singly, the crystals appear- 

 ed to be very thin and somewhat curved. The brown tinge was 

 still noticeable. The length of each crystal is 50^ and thickness 

 under ^ . The crystals are sparingly soluble in warm water, 

 freely in boiling water, so that a piece of the wild variety 5 on being 

 reduced to pulp and boiled with distilled water, was almost deprived 

 of the crystals, while the white crystals were still seen. By filtering 

 the hot water, brown crystals were obtained from the filtrate by 

 evaporation. Is it a fact that the wild variety can be eaten, if well 

 boiled, especially with salt ? 



" On incinerating the piece just as described above, I found that these 

 crystals were not altered in the slightest manner, thus proving that 

 they too were inorganic in nature and that they were not oxalates. 



" Acetic acid dissolved them without evolution of gas. These were 

 probably sulphate of calcium crystals ; however, I am not certain 

 of that. I examined pieces of both the varieties for other salts 

 after charring and incinerating them. This method showed insoluble 

 and soluble carbonates, soluble sulphates and traces of chlorides. 



" Of course, sulphate of calcium, being a poisonous salt, must have 

 something to do with the properties of the wild variety ; however, it is 

 perhaps not the only cause ; a glucoside or an alkaloid may be present 

 too. As I have neither the means nor the time at my disposal, I am 

 not able to settle that point. 



u The important facts, however, are that the brown crystals are 

 only present, as far as I know, in the wild variety, and that they are 

 soluble in boiling water and weak acids without evolving any gas like 

 the white crystals. These are very delicate, and appear in places to be 

 slightly bent ; while the white crystals are rigid, straight, and thicker." 



I am very thankful to Dr. JSTasarvanji for these remarks. They 

 will serve as an important guide, incomplete though they are, 

 in understanding the poisonous nature of the plant. With regard 

 to his query whether "the wild variety can be eaten, if well 



