566 ORAM IN EJ^. 



the inargius, otherwise sniooth ; from 3 to 4 feet long, including 

 their sheaths, and about f of an inch broad. Floral leaves 

 small. Panicle linear, a little bent to one side, composed of 

 many fascicles of spikes that are both terminal and form the 

 exterior axils. Spikes generally paired on a common peduncle, 

 witli a common boat-like spathe, or involucre at the division ; 

 each has also its proper pedicel, and both spathe-shaped. 

 Kachis articulated, much waved, hairy. Flowers in pairs, 

 one hermaphrodite and sessile, the other male and pedicelled ; 

 the last hermaphrodite flower of eacli spike has two males j 

 below there is only one male, as the rachis occupies the space 

 of the other. Hermaphrodite flowers sessile. Grlume girt at 

 the base with wool. Corol 2-valved, awnless. Nectary, two, 

 broad, short, wedge-formed, obHquely lobed, crenulated bodies 

 embrace the insertion of the filaments and the forepart of the 

 germ. Male flowers pedicelled, calyx, glumes as in the 

 hermaphrodite ones. Corol 1-valved, awnless. Nectary as in 



the hermaphrodite, stamens three. This grass flowers in the 

 rains, but rarely. 



Chemical composli ion. —T^he most interesting constituent of 

 this oil is Citral, which has been examined by J. W. Semmler 



C£er. d. DeuUch, Chem. Ges., 23, 3556, and 24, 203). This 

 author found that the aldehyde C'^H'^'O, obtained by the 

 oxidation of geraniol with chromic acid mixture, is identical with 

 the citral of oil of lemons. By further oxidation with argentic 

 oxide he prepared Gemnic acid, Ci^H^^qo^ ^ limpid oil, and by 

 treating citral with acid sulphate of potassium, &jmol was 

 formed, a molecule of water splitting off. 



Up to the present time citral has been found by Messrs. 

 Schimmel & Co. in the following essential oils : 



Lemon oil from Cifrus Limonum. 



Limetta oil „ Citrus Limetia. 



Mandarine oil ^ „ Citrus Maditrensis. 



Lemon grass oil ,, Andropogon citrafus. 



Eucalyptus oil „ Eucalyptus Staigeruvia 



Backhousia oil „ Backhousia citriodora. 



Citronella fruit oil „ Tetranthcra citrata. 



Japan pepper oil „ Zanthoryhn piperitnm. 



