204 



kinoshita; asparagine in nelumbo. 



crystals, on treating it again with hot alcohol and evaporating. 

 An approximate determination showed that this root contains 

 asparagine amounting to nearly 2 % of the dry matter. 



The purified crystals showed not only the same crystalline 

 forms as asparagine but also yielded up one molecule of water 

 when dried at ioo°, while the nitrogen determination according 

 to the method of Kjeldahl also agreed with that for asparagine. 

 For the determination of nitrogen, I took 0.3 gr. of the substance 

 dried at ioo° and obtained 0.06232 gr. nitrogen, that is 20.78%. 



Calculated. Observed. 



Water of crystallisation 12. 11 % 12.14 % 



Nitrogen 21.02 % 20.78 % 



The solubility in water nearly agrees with the number 

 given by Guarcschi, thus : 



1 part of asparagine dissolves 1 part of the substance dis- 

 in 55.86 pts of water at 10. 5 0 solved in 56.72 pts of water at 

 (Guareschi). 11.2 0 



