K. ASo. 



and is very rich in starch. 1 Whether this plant is parasitic or 

 saprophytic is not yet quite decided. 2 



I collected the plant in the beginning of June and separated 

 the rhizomes from the other parts. 3 The ash <3f each part was 

 separately analyzed with the following result : 

 In 100 parts of dry matter. 



Above-ground part 5.25 % 



Under-ground part 3.94 % 



In 100 parts of dry matter. 



Above-ground part. Under-ground part. 

 S0 3 O.I96 O.O73 



P 2 0 3 1.500 0.679 



K 2 0 2.323 2.009 



Na 2 0 0.379 0.541 



CaO 0.384 .0.200 



MgO 0.367 0.251 



Fe 2 0 3 0.095 0.102 



In 100 parts of ash. 



Above-ground part. Under-ground part. 



SO- 3.73 1.85 



P 2 0 5 28.57 17-24 



K a O 4425 50.99 



Na a O 7.22 13.73 



CaO 7.31 5.08 



MgO.... 6.99 6.37 



Fe 2 0 3 1. Si 2.59 



Si0 2 and loss ... 0.12 2.15 



When we compare these results, with the ash constituents 

 of green plants, a striking fact is noticed in regard to the ratio 

 of lime and magnesia. In the chlcrophyll-bearing parts, the 

 content of magnesia is always surpassed by that of lime ; for 

 instance, with cereals in the blossoming stage the ratio of 

 CaO : MgO is 2 : 1 ; in lucerne before flowering 8:1; and in rape 

 before flowering 5.5 : 1. Clmrch compared the ash of albino 

 leaves with that of green leaves of Qiwrcus rubra and found in 

 regard to lime and magnesia the following data : 



1 After fruiting, the plant dies having used rip all the nutrients in the rhizome. 



- According to Mr. Shibata, botanist in the College of Science, Imperial University, 

 Tokio, this plant is probably a saprophyte, because no one has observed any connection 

 l«t« een its rhizome and the root of other plants. 



3 I found only traces of calcium oxalate in this plant. 



