230 PRINCIPLES OF BOTANY, ETC. 
forming a sulphat of potass, or with soda, as sul- 
phat of soda. Even in substance sulphur has been 
found in the roots of the Rumex Patientia. After 
they were cut down, boiled and scummed, sulphur 
appeared in the scum when left to settle. 
11. Soda is peculiar to almost all plants growing 
on sea-shores or in salt marshes. 
12. Silica is found in the stem of the Bambusa 
arundinacea, and in the common reed, Arundo Phrag- 
mites. It is supposed to exist in the alder, Betula 
Alnus, and birch, Betula alba, as their wood often 
emits sparks when under the hand of turners. 
ne, Alumina, it 1s said, has been found in some 
plants. — Ont 
TVA Magnesia, some philosophers think, they have 
have met with likewise. : | 
15. Barytes is chiefly obvious in grasses. 
16. Lime is found in almost all vegetables, most 
frequently in Chara tomentosa, a pound of which is 
said to contain five ounces of it. 
17. Iron is detected in the ashes of most plants. 
18. Manganese has likewise been sometimes found 
in plants*. eno } 
* If some have detected gold in the vine, Vitis vinifera, 
oak, Quercus rodur, hornbeam, Carpinus betulus, or In ivy, 
Hedera hefx, and tin in Spanish broom, Spartium junceum, it 
seems merely to have been accidentally, as their presence has 
been stated as impossible by late experiments. Of the above 
principles, No. 1—¥, and 10, 16 and 17 are found inall plants, 
the rest only in some. The Fungi, especially the genera Pez- 
iza, Octospora and Byssus have,- according to the Jatest re- 
searches, not a vestige of lime. 
