The title compound, C(16)H(16)O(8), is a potent nonspecific phyto-toxin. The crystal structure is the average of two tauto-mers, 5,6,7,9,10-penta-hydr-oxy-2-meth-oxy-7-methyl-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexa-hydro-anthracene-1,4-dione and 1,4,5,6,7-pentahydr-oxy-2-meth--oxy-7-methyl-5,6,7,8,9,10-hexa-hydro-anthracene-9,10-di-one. The cyclo-hexene rings in both tautomers display a half-chair conformation. An extensive O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding network is present in the crystal structure.