134 ODOROGRAPHIA. 
Coumarin also occurs in the leaves of the Angrecum fragrans *. 
This is an orchid somewhat resembling Vanilla. It is synonymous 
with Acrobion or Anethum fragrans (Sprengel) and Aranthus 
fragrans (Reichenbach). It is found in Madagascar, Bourbon, 
and Mauritius. In the former island it is known as “ Fanave,”’ 
and in both the latter as “ Faham” and ‘ Bourbon tea.” The 
leaves have an agreeable odour when green, and both leaves and 
fruit when they turn yellow on the plant or have been artificially 
dried acquire a much stronger odour. The long thin fruit-pods 
possess a stronger and more delicate perfume than the leaves, and 
when cured with boiling water in the same way as Vanilla, they 
blacken, remain entire without splitting, and retain their perfume 
for a great length of time. The odour resembles a mixture of 
Vanilla, Tonquin beans, and Melilot. Commercially we know 
only the leaves; they contain an aromatic principle soluble in 
alcohol, ether, and boiling water. It has been isolated by Gobley f, 
in the form of small white silky needles, which, on being pressed 
between the fingers or slightly warmed, develop the characteristic 
odour of Faham and bitter almonds. The fruit is supposed to 
contain a larger proportion of this principle than the leaves. The 
plant is propagated by seed. 
Coumarin is contained in considerable quantity in the pods of 
the Balsam Peru tree, Myroxylon Pereire. 
The Ceratopetalum apetalum, an Australian Saxifragaceous tree 
growing to a height of 50 feet, contains coumarin in large quan- 
tities, both in its bark and fruit. It is also found in the Austra- 
lian Alyzia buvxifolia, a straggling sea-side shrub, which, however, 
does not produce wood of any size. 
The occurrence of coumarin in the hay of Anthoxanthum odo- 
ratum, or “sweet vernal grass,’ is well known, and was first 
studied in 1846 by Dr. Bleibtrent. It has also been found in 
six other grasses :— 
Ataxia Horsfeldii. —) From the leaves. 
Cinna arundinacea. do. 
Hierochloa Alpina. | do. 
do. Australis, ‘ Grasses. do. 
do. Borealis. Root. 
Milium effusum. J Leaves. 
* Dupetit and Thouars, ‘‘ Orchidées d’ Afrique.” 
+ Journ. de Pharm. [3] vii. p. 548. 
¢{ Ann. der Chim. und Pharm. lix. p. 177. 
