Methods involving paper and cellulose column chromatography are described for the purification of sedoheptulose phosphate from the mother liquor obtained from Sedum spectabile by the procedure of LaForge and Hudson. The beginnings of crystallization with subrectangular arrangement of rod-like longulites of free sedoheptulose have been obtained by chromatographic separation in phenol from an equilibrium mixture of sedoheptulosan and sedoheptulose prepared by treating the former with 3 N hydrochloric acid at room temperature. A spraying reagent for carbohydrates containing ketose units is described.