The new method substitutes anthraquinone for picric acid in Bouin''s formula and adds alizarin red S with a metallic salt as a mordant. The fixed smears, after being dehydrated to 95% alcohol, are differentiated in 0.5% H2SO4 in 95% alcohol saturated with picric acid, washed, cleared and mounted in xylol-balsam. Cymene may be used to intensify the stain. Root tips fixed in the above solution may be dehydrated in dioxan (a paraffin solvent), infiltrated, embedded, sectioned and mounted in the usual way. The sections are subsequently differentiated in picro-sulfuric acid alcohol and cymene. An alternative method of differentiation for this stain is also described.