The article discusses the structure, structure and properties of cellulose obtained from various natural sources of plant origin. The physical and mechanical properties of celluloses (content of α–cellulose, determination of the mass fraction of pentosans; determination of the copper number; viscosity characteristics; determination of the degree of purity, moisture content and ash content and determination of the average molecular weight, degree of polymerization and content of aldehyde and carboxyl groups), interaction with nitrogen acid as well as the ability of various cellulose samples to complex formation with copper ions.