This alkaloid which has been isolated from the seeds of Echinops vitro, is a
colourless oil which has no definite boiling point. It is optically inactive and is
not precipitated as the picrate or the picrolonate, nor is it rearranged by alkali. The structure has been shown to be N-methyl-3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-l :2-
dihydroq uinoline.
