176 ON THE INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS 
PLATYCERIUM GRANDE. 
This plant generally grows singly, and throws out at intervals 
of about six months large barren fronds or plates alternately to 
the right and left, which cling closely to the fronds which preceded 
them and to the tree to which it has attached itself at the bottom 
species of ant, and several beetles. Some of these probably bring 
nutriment to the plant from without. ] led 
into two portions for analysis—namely, live fronds, including 
both barren and fertile, and dead fronds and humus. 
Analysis of live fronds. 
Percentage of ash of the composition stated, 8-62. 
E 
: 
z 
: 88 
Soda ... is a ae a i a 
Chloride of sodium... os mi ee eas? 2 
ime ... ey ane re ... 21°99 
Magnesia .., 5°58 
Alumina .., ae 816 
Ferric oxide ... ex 2°47 
Manganese oxide (M304) 45 
Phosphoric oxide... ie 
Sulphuric oxide 1-47 
Soluble silica 354 
99°82 
Analysis of humus and roots. 
Percentage of ash of composition given, 3°21—2°02. 
Plakias ‘ 
ll 
Side ae ete es 2-26 3°61 
Chloride of sodium ... 2-26 3°61 
Lime .... es _ 26°63 42°52 
Magnesia 2°26 3°61 
Alumi 12°88 20 
Ferric 1°83. 35 
Ferrie oxide css Deere, 1°83 : 
ric oxide... ove ‘I : 
Sulphuric oxide she ee 10°10 
Silica and silicates undecom- 
posed by acid oe ote 
