230 ODOROGRAPHIA. 
which causes the greenish-blue coloration when brought in 
contact with an alcoholic solution of perchloride of iron, and 
produces the intense violet colour when the oil is agitated with 
metallic “ reduced iron.” 
Caryophylline, CyH,,0, is a neutral, tasteless, inodorous sub- 
stance, isomeric with common camphor, crystallizable in prismatic 
needles. It was obtained by Fliickiger and Hanbury in small 
quantity by extracting with ether cloves previously deprived of the 
greater part of their essential oil by a little alcohol. In 1873, 
Mylius obtained from cloves by nitric acid, crystals of Caryo- 
phyllinic acid. 
Cloves also contain 16 per cent. of a peculiar tannic acid, 13 
per cent. of gum, and about 18 per cent. of water and extractive 
matter. 
The perfume of cloves is strongly developed in flowers of certain 
plants, notably in those of a clove-scented Convolvulus found in 
the forests of Midnapore in Bengal, called Lettsomia Bona-noz, 
Roxburgh * , synonymous with Argyreia Bona-nox, Sweet +. The 
native name of this plant in Bengal is Kulni-luta. The flowers, 
which are produced during the rainy season, are large, pure white, 
expanding at sunset and perfuming the air to a considerable distance 
with a fragrance resembling that of the finest cloves. At sunrise 
these flowers wither ; a peculiarity which is noticeable in another 
scented Convolvulus, the Jpomea grandiflora, Roxburgh, called 
Doodiya-Kulmi in Bengalee, Munda Valli by Rheede{. This 
plant will twine up to a height of 20 feet and bears white flowers 
4 to 6 inches in diameter. It is common in hedges near Samul- 
cota and on the banks of watercourses amongst bushes. It has 
been considered very nearly allied to, if not identical with, the 
Lettsomia Bona-nox above-mentioned. 
The perfume of cloves blended with a trace of that of methyl- 
salicylate or a compound organic ether, is conspicuous in several 
species of Dianthus or “ Pink” ; plants belonging to the extensive 
order Caryophyllaceze. Most of the species are natives of Europe, 
temperate Asia, and North Africa. Dianthus Caryophyllus or 
“Clove Pink ” is the original of the garden Carnation. 
* Flor. Ind. ii. p. 494. + Hort. Brit. p. 289. 
t Rheede, Hort. Mal. xi. p. 103, t. 50, and ‘ Asiatic Researches,’ iv. p. 257. 
