ODOUR OF THE HAYFIELDS. 133 
by Delalande *. Coumarin is also abundantly developed on the 
dried leaves of the Liatris odoratissima, commonly called “ Deer’s 
tongue”’ or “ Hound’s tongue,” an herbaceous plant found plen- 
tifully in North Carolina, in portions of Lower Georgia, and 
throughout the east and south of Florida, principally along the 
St. John’s River and its tributaries. It is mostly found on the 
edges of what are called “ bays,” 7. e. low-lying places in the pine 
woods, which are partially covered with water, and overgrown 
with “ bays,” a species of maguolia+. Its root-leaves are from 8 
to 12 inches long, by 2 or 3 broad; those on the stem being very 
much smaller. The stem divides above into a broad branching 
panicle of purple flowers, which make the plant an attractive 
one. 
The leaves of the Liatris when green are very slightly odorous, 
due to the presence of a small quantity of essential oil contained 
in glands sunk in funnel-shaped depressions on both the upper 
and lower surfaces of the leaf. Dr. Paschkis found that the pro- 
portion of oil yielded by the leaves was only 10 drops to 250 grams. 
By drying in the shade the leaves rapidly develop a pleasant 
odour very similar to that of the Tonka bean, and mainly due to 
the same principle—coumarin, crystals of which are abundantly 
deposited on the matured leaves when dried. In the early season 
the leaves are said to be very succulent, losing 60 or 70 per cent. 
of moisture in drying, but in September the loss hardly exceeds 
20 per cent. It has been observed by Dr. Wood that they retain 
their fragrance for many years after they are gathered. The 
odour is given off more intensely on a damp day than on a dry 
one. A damp atmosphere will develop the perfume months after 
all sign of its activity has disappeared. 
The odour is very volatile and diffusive, beg most perceptible 
in the upper stories of warehouses where it is kept. A single 
leaf of Deer’s tongue will for many years preserve and manifest 
its perfume, and yet the particles of coumarin volatilized would 
hardly be appreciated in the most delicate balance. 
According to the experiments of Dr. Wood, the yield of cou- 
marin from Deer’s tongue is about 2 drachms to 24 drachms from 
1 lb. of leaves, 
* Ann. Ch. & de Phys. [8] vi. p. 345. t+ Magnolia glaucus. 
