392 
DR. C. B. PLOWRIGHT ON BRITISH DYE PLANTS. 
flowery tops of the heather are packed with the wool, stratum super 
stratum, in a saucepan of sufficient size ; water is poured in and 
the whole boiled briskly. It contains quercetin, C 15 H 10 O 7 . 
(A. G. P.). 
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. — The dried leaves, when boiled with 
alum and wool, impart a yellow colour to the latter. The addition 
of sulphate of iron produces a slate colour. Mr. Perkins informs 
me that quercetin (C 15 H 10 O 7 ) and myricetin (C 15 H 10 O 8 ) are con- 
tained in this plant. 
Ligustrum vulgark. — The deep purple-black berries of the 
common Privet dye wool green when boiled with alum. They 
contain ligustrin. 
Fraxinus excelsior. — The inner bark of the younger branches, 
with alum, dyes wool yellow, verging to brown. It contains 
fraxin (C 14 H 18 O 10 ), a glucoside of fraxetin (C 10 II 8 O 5 ). (A. G. P.) 
Lycopus europ^us.— With alum this plant gives a greenish 
colour to wool boiled with it ; with copperas (F 2 S0 4 ), a blackish. 
Origanum vulgare. — The assertion that the tops will dye purple 
was found to be incorrect ; on the contrary, they gave, with alum, 
a good yellow, darkened by alkalies. 
Stachys sylvatica. — With alum gave a pale yellow, a dirty 
yellow,' and a pale brown. 
Stachys palustris. — With alum gave a pale yellow-brown. 
Pumex crispus ^ The roots, when boiled, gave a variety 
,, obtusifolius J of colours. Five specimens are shown. 
With alum a pale yellow, which treated with potash assumed 
a salmon or reddish ; while with iron, shades of grey and greenish- 
grey were obtained. The roots contain quercetin, C 15 H 10 O 7 , 
(A. G. P.). 
Pumex acetosa — The roots, with alum, gave a very pale yellow. 
Polygonum persicaria.— A very good yellow, with alum. 
,, hydropiper.— A rather darker yellow than the 
above, which became olive when treated with iron. 
Urtica dioica. — In spite of the assertions of the older writers, 
no colour could be obtained from the roots of this plant. Trials 
were made both during the summer and the winter months. 
