256 H. G. SMITH AND J. READ, 
other reactions enumerated, indicate that the substance is 
phenolic in character, with two hydroxyl groups arranged 
in the molecule in the ortho-position, after the manner of 
catechol. Further, the absence of methylated phenolic 
groups was proved by applying the method of Zeisel. In 
accordance with its phenolic character, the substance was 
soluble in aqueous solutions of the caustic alkalies, with 
rapid darkening due to oxidation. A similar change was 
noticeable upon painting the light pink timber of ‘*‘ Red 
Oedar’’ with similar solutions. * 
The substance possessed dyeing properties, and when 
boiled with mordanted cloth the resulting colours were 
red-brown for chromium, and orange-yellow for aluminium: 
these colours were weaker than those given by quercetin 
glucosides, like myrticolorin, but resembled those of fisetin 
and its derivatives. 
When the substance was boiled with dilute sulphuric acid 
the solution soon changed toa yellow colour and darkened 
considerably on longer boiling. Further examination 
showed the substance to be very resistant to the action of 
boiling dilute acids. Even when boiled for 15 hours very 
little hydrolysis had occurred: most of the original sub- 
Stance was recovered unchanged, and only a very small 
amount of an orange precipitate separated on cooling. 
In an endeavour to characterise the sugar which was 
shown to be formed by hydrolysis, the following procedure 
was adopted: the sulphuric acid was removed by barium 
carbonate, and the unchanged material by lead acetate, 
the lead being removed in the usual way and the filtrate 
evaporated, The small amount of residue thus obtained 


* The glucoside is uviformly distributed throughout the heart-wood 
of the timber, so that when washed with a very dilute solution of sodium 
hydroxide the wood is deeply stained, and when polished or varnished has 
a striking resemblance to ‘‘Queensland Maple,” Flindersia Chatawaiana. 


