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6 
CHEMICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ROOTSTOCK OF VITIS OPACA. 93 
**Leaflets 5 to 3 rarely 4, up to 5 inches long, linear, 
cuneate, elliptical, oblong, obovate, narrow lanceolate 
to full lanceolate, occasionally irregularly toothed or 
crenate, narrowed at the base into either a long or very 
short petiolule, or even sessile; membranous, dull or not 
shining, finely veined, the underside of the leaves paler 
than the upper.”’ 
A specimen obtained by Mr. Carne, F.G.s., Assistant 
Goverment Geologist, from Mount Dangar, Goulburn River, 
N.S. Wales, has one solitary fair sized leaf which is 
deltoid in shape, the base being quite straight and the 
lateral sides below the middle lobed or irregularly toothed. 
Baron von Mueller in his Kragmenta, Vol. v., p. 210, 
mentions that V. opaca produces from 8—10 tubers 
weighing from 20 — 25 lbs., and Dr. Woolls is also mentioned 
(loc. cit.) as recording tubers in connection with V, 
clematidea, F. v. M. 3 
It would appear from data published concerning the. 
edible character of these “‘tubers”’ that it was not unknown 
to the autochthonous tribes of Queensland, for Dr. Roth 
records that the tubers of V. trifolia are roasted and 
used for food, and of V. clematidea that the roots are 
eaten after being beaten on stones and then roasted. 
Thozet states that the “‘yams’’ as he calls them, of V. 
opaca, the subject of this paper, are eaten without any 
preparation. 
Chemistry—The tuber taken for analysis weighed 2 Ibs. 
and was in quite a fresh state. It had a diameter of 95 
mm. anda length of 190 mm. Externally it had much the 
appearance of a large potato, and when cut had an odour 
which also resembled that of the potato. It was covered 
externally with a thin brown, papery coating. In trans- 
verse section it was at first light in colour, but soon became 
of a pinkish tint when exposed to the air. The juice on 
