picroerythrin

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A bitter crystalline substance made by boiling erythrin with water, alkalis, or alcohol. It is monoör-sellinate of erythrite, C₁₂H₁₆O₇ + 3H₂O, the boiling effecting a partial hydrolysis of the erythrin. When boiled with lime it is broken down into carbon dioxid, orcinol, and erythrite. It melts at 158° C.