42 KEEGAN : THE CHEMISTRY OF SOME COMMON PLANTS. 
flower heads contain a considerable quantity. of sugar, starch, oxalat 
of calcium, and soluble phosphates-—in these respects approximating 
it and adding a little alcohol a dense curdy precipitate is immediately 
produced of myrosin, a nitrogenous ferment resembling vegetable 
albumen ; its solution froths when agitated, and when heated wit 
HCl a peculiar violet colour is observed. It is this body, at one time | 
Bird’s-foot Trefoil (Zosus corniculatus). Who has not observed 
the brilliant orange and crimson tints of this gay and charming — 
species embroidering the banks and meadows ? Very few indeed a 
h 
latter predominates, the colour of the petals, or parts of them, is deep 
red ike all, or most, Leguminosz this plant is specially rich ™ 
proteid bodies, containing 13-57 per cent. in the dry substance, 
