GUMS, RESINS, AND KINOS. 231 
On cutting through a fruit the substance is seen to contain 
small globules of an orange-red resin disseminated through it. 
On the outside of mature fruits small tears of the resin will also 
be found. The resin also exudes from wounds made in the bark. 
It is best obtained, however, by felling a tree, when it exudes 
between the bark and sapwood in small drops, which may be 
scraped off, and the resin collected fairly continuously, and in a 
pure state. It is an oleo-resin, and is remarkably like Venice 
turpentine, both in colour (a rich reddish-brown) and in viscidity. 
It has a very agreeable (to the author) turpentine odour, in degree 
and character something between those of Venice turpentine and 
Canada Balsam. The native bees seem to make much use of it, 
as they carry it away very assiduously. 
New South Wales and Queensland. 
17. Xanthorrhea spp., N.O., Juncacez. 
“ Grass Trees.”” The resin is usually, but incorrectly, called ‘ Grass 
Tree Gum.” 
This resin has an agreeable smell, or none at all, and is 
soluble in ether, alcohol, and caustic potash. Its solution in the 
latter, when treated with hydrochloric acid, deposits benzoic and 
cinnamic acids; nitric acid readily converts it into picric acid. By 
distillation this resin yields a light neutral oil, which appears to be 
a mixture of benzoic and cinnamic, and a heavy acid oil, consisting 
of hydrate of phenyl, mixed with small quantities of benzoic and 
cinnamic acids. 
It yields, by oxidation with melting potash, so large a quantity 
of paraoxybenzoic acid (36 grains from g ounces) that it may be 
conveniently used as a source of that acid. The mother-liquor of 
the ethereal extract contains also resorcin and pyrocatechin, as 
well as the double compound of protocatechuic and paraoxyben- 
zoic acids, Cy, H,, O,, H, O, first obtained from benzoin. ( Watts’ 
Dict., vi., 1st Suppt. 2.) 
The aborigines use it for fastening on the heads of spears, &c. 
It could probably be used in candle-making, for it burns by itself 
with a bright flame, and mixes with fat in all proportions. 
