Chemisches, Pharmaceutisches. 239 



Baker, R. T. and H. G. Smith. "The Australian Melaleucas 

 and their essential oils." Part IL (Proc. roy. Soc. N. S.Wales, 

 Sydney. Dec. 4, 1907.) 



This section (Part II.) of the subject Covers an investigation of 

 the two species, Melaleiica uncinata, R. ßr. , and Melaleiica nodosa, 

 Sm. The former is restricted more particularly to the interior of 

 the continent, not having been recorded east of the dividing ränge. 

 It does, however, occur on Kangaroo Island. It is mostly a slen- 

 der shrub having acicular leaves terminating with slender hooks. 

 M. nodosa is a coastal plant and is a more compact shrub. Sufficient 

 ot the systematic side is given in order to guarantee the botanical 

 origin of the material upon which the work is based, but both 

 the histological botany, and the chemistry of the oils are 

 fully dealt with. Many microscopic sections of the leaves were 

 cut, and the principal results obtained from these were, the pre- 

 sence in M. uncinata of endodermic cells surrounding the stele of 

 the principal vascular bündle, and the occurrence of conical cells 

 in the lower portion of the epidermis. These latter appear not to 

 have been previously recorded from our Myrtaceous plants. The 

 photographs which illustrate the paper show, not onlj^ these cells, 

 but also the irregulär distribution of the oil glands throughout the 

 leaf structure and their lysigenous origin. The two essential oils 

 dealt with are exceedingly diverse in Constitution , that of M. nodosa 

 consisting largel}^ of dextropinene and cineol. The crude oil had a 

 specific gravit}^ of 0-8984; rotation ad + 11'6 degrees; refractive index 

 1-4689; and contained 330/^ of cineol. The saponification number for 

 the esters was 7-24. The oil was insoluble in 10 volumes of 70*^/0 

 alcohol. The essential oil from M. uncinata is virtually a cajuput, 

 and meets the requirements of the British Pharmacopoeia for that 

 substance. The jield of oil is somewhat large, being l-246'^'/o') this 

 was distilled from fresh leaves with terminal branchlets. The odour 

 of the oil is that of an ordinary cajuput, and the taste also resem- 

 bles it. The principal constituent is cineol, and there is also present 

 a small amount of dextrorotator}^ pinene. The most important con- 

 stituent, however, from a scientific point of view, is the stearoptene 

 which differs from all substances of this class previously obtained 

 from plants. It is an alcohol allied to the terpineol group; it is quite 

 white; crystallises well when pure; is soluble in organic solvents 

 generally; sublimes unaltered; melts at 72*5 degrees C; and is 

 dextrorotatory, the specific rotation in alcohol being [ajo + 36*99 

 degrees. The formula is QoHisO. The specific gravity of the average 

 crude oil was 0-9259; the rotation ac -f- 7-2 degrees. This rotation is 

 due to the pinene and the solid alcohol, both of which are dextro- 

 rotatory. Refractive index at 15° C. was equal to 1-4788. It was soluble 

 in 1^ volumes of 70ö/p alcohol (by weight). Only a very small amount 

 of esters was present. Author's notice. 



Peklo. J., Histochemisches über die Lokalisation der Sac- 

 charose in der Zuckerrübe. (Sitzungsber. kgl. böhm. Ges. 

 Wissensch.; math.-natw. Klasse. 1907. Prag. XXII. p. 1—28. 1908. 

 Mit einer Doppeltafel.) 



Die Hauptresultate sind : 



1. Die Senft'sche Methode (Phenylhydrazin, essigsaures Natron, 

 Glycerin) lässt sich sehr gut bei der mikrochemischen Untersuchung 

 der Lokalisation der Saccharose in der Zuckerrübe anwenden. 



