The tamarind seed testa contains about 32 per cent. of tannins of which 35 per cent. is phlobatannin, the rest being mostly catechol tannin. The phlobatannin yields almost colourless methyl and acetyl derivatives which exhibit marked optical activity, supporting the idea that phlobatannins are probably hydroxy flavan derivatives.

The roots ofAsparagus filicinus contain a mucilage to an extent of 60 per cent. The latter is composed of a uronic acid, fructose, glucose and mannose, which are in the ratio of 1∶2∶8∶10. The uronic acid seems to be glucuronic acid.

The fibre-free root powder was found to give satisfactory results in bulksizing and finishing in the textile industry. It was also found to be satisfactory as a base in calico-printing.

The mucilage from the tubers ofAsparagus filicinus, when subjected to partial hydrolysis by heating with 4 per cent. sulphuric acid at 80° for 3 hours, breaks into an aldobionic acid and a polysaccharide. The aldobionic acid is composed of mannose and glucuronic acid, while the polysaccharide is constituted from two molecules of fructose, eight molecules of glucose and nine of mannose.

The polysaccharide does not melt or decompose below 250° and has a specific rotation of −14·45°. It undergoes easy acetylation when treated with acetic anhydride and anhydrous sodium acetate. The acetyl derivative decomposes at about 180° and has a specific rotation of −15·0° in chloroform solution.

The condensation of cresols with acetic, propionic and butyric acids was tried under conditions of Nencki’s reaction employing anhydrous zinc chloride as the condensing agent. Onlyo-cresol gave rise to both theortho- andpara-substituted derivatives, while them- and thep-cresols produced only theortho-substituted products. The yields varied with the duration of heating.

Employing filter-paper chromatography a convenient method (Horizontal Migration Method) has been developed for the identification of reducing sugars, when present either alone or in mixtures. Since only small amounts are required for the identification, the method may be useful both to the regular student and the research worker. Under the conditions of the experiment the components of mixtures separate in 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours into circular zones, which can be easily detected by spraying with a suitable reagent like aniline hydrogen phthalate. Each sugar has its own characteristic circular R_F value (the ratio between the distances through which the sugar moves on the one hand and the solvent front on the other) with a particular solvent, and its determination enables the identification of the sugar. Since some of the sugars have the same or very close R_F values with a particular solvent, it is desirable to run the chromatogram with at least 2 different solvents to confirm the identification. In the case of mixtures it may be necessary to determine the R_F values with 3 or more different solvents in order to definitely identify the individual components. Some of the advantages of the method are the speed and ease of manipulation, simplicity and compactness of the apparatus, and accuracy and reproducibility of the results.

The mucilage from the tubers ofCurculigo orchioides Gaertn. is constituted from mannose, glucose and glucuronic acid in the molecular ratio of 6:9:10. It is present to an extent of 8·12 per cent.

The results of a proximate analysis of the root powder are also given.

Using the horizontal migration method of filter paper chromatography, the separation and identification of glucuronic and galacturonic acids and their barium salts have been effected.

Tamarind seed jellose undergoes fermentative degradation in aqueous solution yielding a hexasaccharide which is composed of xylose, galactose and glucose in the molecular proportion of 2:1:3. The carbohydrate, which may be named Tamarindose, decomposes at 228–30°C. and has a specific rotation of + 73·8° at 30°. Its acetate melts with decomposition at 172–74° and has a specific rotation of + 43·6° in methyl alcoholic solution at 30°.

The hemicelluloses of the tubers ofAsparagus adscendens Roxb. have been isolated and chemically examined. They are composed of two fractions, A₂ and B₂ of Norris and Preece designation.

Both the fractions are constituted from the same sugars and uronic acid,viz., xylose, glucose and glucuronic acid but in different proportions. In hemicellulose A₂ the ratio of these components is 2:1:1, while in B₂ it is 1:1:2.

The hemicelluloses of the tubers ofAsparagus racemosus Willd. have been isolated and chemically examined. Two fractions,viz., A₂ and B₂ of Norris and Preece designation, have been obtained.

Both the fractions are constituted from the same sugar and uronic acid, namely, glucose and galacturonic acid but in different proportions. In hemicellulose A₂ the molecular ratio of these compounds is 10:1, while in B₂ it is 5:2. Under conditions of partial hydrolysis, both the fractions give rise to glucose and a gluco-galacturonic acid.

Using the horizontal migration method of paper chromatography the separation and identification of naturally-occurring amino acids have been effected.

The hexa, duodeca and hexadeca acetyl derivatives of tamarind seed jellose have been prepared by treatment with acetic anhydride under different conditions. Boiling glacial acetic acid also effects partial acetylation.

Some of the acetyl derivatives in appropriate solvents give fairly strong, flexible, glossy and transparent films, which adhere to glass, metallic and also wooden surfaces. They may also be useful as thermoplastic resins on account of their wide melting range.

Gum karaya (Sterculia urens Roxb.) is constituted from L-rhamnose, D-galactose and D-galacturonic acid which appear to be present in the molecular ratio of 4∶6∶5. D-tagatose, which has been reported to be present in other Sterculia gums, could not be detected in the sample of the karaya gum now examined. The original crude gum contains some acetyl groups also, which get detached during purification.

On graded hydrolysis with dilute sulphuric acid under controlled conditions, the gum yields L-rhamnose, D-galactose and a mixture of two aldobiuronic acids.

The leaves ofDiospyros melanoxylon Roxb. growing in Mysore, have been shown to contain ceryl alcohol, lupeol, betulin,β-sitosterol, sequoyitol, a new triterpene alcohol, m.p. 212–13°, and a new triterpene carboxylic acid named diospyric acid, m.p. 272–74°.

Note (Correction added at the proof stage.)—When this paper is under print, a note has appeared from Rowet al. (Row, L. R., Rao, C. S. and Ramaiah, T. S.,Curr. Sci., 1964,33, 367), wherein it is stated that lupeol and betulin occur along with betulinic acid in the ebony ofD. melanoxylon also.

The ultraviolet and infrared spectral data for a number of lichen depsides, depsidones and their fission products have been recorded. The U.V. spectra of the orcinol depsides, orcinol depsidones andβ-orcinol depsidones are characteristic while those of theβ-orcinol depsides less useful for diagnostic purposes. The I.R. spectra are more useful and the carbonyl region is significant for this purpose.