96 
K. OSHIMA. 
pentosans (xylan and araban) has been positively proved only in four cases, 
namely in brewers’ grain (barley), 1 5 and in maize-pith, elder-pith and cherry- 
gum. 1 2 ) 3 Rush-pith may now be added to the list. 
The presence of methyl pentosan in rush-pith is also worthy of notice. A 
wide distribution of methyl pentosan in nature, accompanying pentosan, has 
been shown in late years, by the investigations of WlDTSOE, OSHIMA, 
Ellett and Tollens, Soelted, Votocek, and Y. Suzuki 3 > in co-operation 
with the author. 
The cellulose in rush-pith is not in free form, but is, in all probability, 
in combination with pentosans (xylan and araban) and methyl pentosan. 
The cellulose, together with pentosans and methyl pentosan, forms the main 
bulk of the pith — -namely, about 68 % of its dry matter. 
1) Stone and Tollens — Zs. Ver. D. Zuckerindustrie, 38 p. 1135. 
2) Browne and Tollens (/.c.) 
3) Trans, Sapporo Nat. Hist. Söc., 1 (1906). pp. 1 19-123. 
