176 ODOEOGPvAPHIA. 



carbon having an odour recalling that of lemon oil, boiling at 170^ 

 C, (the boiling point of safrene is 156° C). 



In the fruit of Illicmm religiosiun , Eijkman found protocatechuic 

 acid and two hitherto unknown compounds requiring further 

 investigation. 



There are several species of the genus Illicmm to which 

 /. veriim is more nearly allied than to /. anisatuin, all having 

 globose flowers, but all differing from verum in the increased 

 number of perianth-segments, stamens and carpels. These 

 are : — 



Illicmm 79aryi/?o?'2t??i, Michaux.* This species is a native 

 of Western Florida, the hilly regions of Georgia and Carolina. 

 It is distinguished by the smallness of its flowers, the 

 perianth being composed of from 12 to 15 unequally shaped 

 segments, the exterior ones being short and green, the 

 interior ones thinner, larger, and of a pale yellow colour. The 

 stamens generally number six or nine. Carpels 12 to 15, of very 

 agreeable odour. The bark has exactly the odour and flavour of 

 sassafras root, and the leaves are odorous. 



One of the latest novelties in essential oils prepared by Messrs. 

 Schimmel & Co.f is termed " Anise bark " oil. The bark yielding 

 this distillate was recently imported from Madagascar, and 

 resembles Massoi bark in its external appearance. The aroma is, 

 however, quite distinct from this latter. The botanical origin of 

 the bark has not been determined, and the fact that the tree 

 yielding it grows in an as yet unknown part of the island, renders 

 its identification a matter of great difficulty, but there seems a 

 probability of its being the produce of /. ^jarviflorum, Michaux. 



Messrs. Schimmel state that " the bark yields fully 3 J per cent, 

 of a lisjht vellow oil, the odour of which reminds of Safrol and 

 Tarragon. It has a spicy taste, but is only slightly sweet. Its sp. 

 gr. is 0-969 at 15° C. Optical rotation— 0° 46' in a 100 m. m. 

 tube. Eefraction equivalent for the sodium line at 16° 1*52510. 

 This oil contains a small quantity of anethol, but consists 

 principally of the isomeric fluid-anethol, the methylchavicol of 

 Eijkman. 



* Flor. Bor. Amer., i., 323; Baillon, Hist, des Plantes, i., p. 151, 

 f. 191, 194; Ventenat, Jardiii de eels., t. 22; Loiseleur Des Lono;ehamps, 

 Herbier de ramateur, t. .330. 



t Bericht, April, 1893. 



