The anthocyanin pigment obtained from the dried flower material of Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis L. has been examined. Owing to the partial decomposition of the pigment taken place during drying of the red flower petals, the colouring matter could not be obtained in a crystalline state. The chemical investigations of the amorphous product permit, however, to assign tentatively to the pigment the structure of a cyanidin diglucoside, largely on the basis of colour reactions, distribution numbers, as well as the results of quantitative hydrolysis and fusion with caustic potash.
The crystallisation of the pigment glucoside as well as the determination of the linkage of two glucose residues will be undertaken, as soon as the fresh flower material becomes available.