166 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [OCTOBER 
definite end-point, at which the pink color of the permanganate 
persisted for an appreciable interval of time, although organic matter, 
small amounts of which undoubtedly were present, continued slowly 
to reduce additional permanganate. 
Results . 
The data obtained in the chemical examination of the fresh a 
dried sorrel leaves are given in tables ITI, IV, and V. 
TABLE III 
ANALYSIS OF LEAVES OF Rumex abyssinicus 
PERCENTAGE DEGREE OF ACIDITY | ppecentAGE TOTAL 
S. : 1 acid 
AMPLE ay in Ya (ce ae OXALATE AS (C:0.)* 
Misc. Div. No. 38339, small le leaves 
with petioles (fresh). . 90.77 162.7 1.69 
Dried at 65°-70° C. and gr und. 2.99 1490.07 17.8 
Misc. Div. No. 38340, large aa 
with petioles (ir Oa ees) 89.59 185.4 78 
Dried at 65°-70° C.and ground 2.50 1500.0 16.2 
* As stated previously, according to KuNKE these figures may be somewhat high 
+ Evidently there was a decrease in acidity during sary for the degrees of acidity as determined 
on the dried material, computed to the original moisture bases, would be 141.8 and 160.2 respectively. 
TABLE IV 
WATER EXTRACT OF LEAVES 
SPECIFIC ACIDITY, H-ION CONCENTRATION 
OTAL 
— ACIDITY IN Of {es oe solution of 
sAMPLE .| 100 CC. OF | Of water extract of Rumex i 
siceenae Pol EXTRACT een Ghee eg ren | acidity Pdike: as water 
roo cc, | EXPRESSE extract e 
or. | AS NORMAL assee (computed) 
extract; ACID 
(gm.) ) Specific P 
Specific acidity Py soulieg 1H 
No. 38339, small 
leaves with petioles 
(fresh) eee 11.26 1.72 | 6300-10,000 | 3.2-3.0 | gooo 3.05 
WI i ci caca ee. 1.00 1.49 6300 2.3 8400 3-08 
No. 38340, large 
leaves with petioles 
Oo oka ek: 18.07 3.35 |10,000-16,000] 3.0-2.8 | 12600 2.90 
ee > I.00 I.50° 6300 2.2 8400 3.08 
Fs ae 
* The method of computation is discussed later under Discussion. Attention is directed to ~ haan’ 
agreement between the observed values and those computed for a pure potassium binoxalate solutio: 
