192 ODOROGKAPHIA. 



the reverse of that of the nitrite prepared from it, the hydrocarbon 

 contained in Angelica root is thus shown to be Dextro- 

 Phcllandrene. The seeds of the plant yield 1-15 per cent, of 

 essential oil ; the presence of Phellandrene has also been proved 

 in this oil. The oil is largely used in flavouring liqueurs, and to 

 some extent in perfumery. 



The following eight species of Angelica are known to occur in 

 Japan : A. anomala, Pallas ; A. daJmrica, Benth. and Hook ; A. 

 decursivci, Miq. ; A, florenti, Fr. and Pav. ; A. niacqualis, Maxim ; 

 A. kiusiana, Maxim ; A. refmcta, Fr. Schmidt. (Jap. Senkiyu) ; A. 

 sylvestris, Lin. (?). Some of these roots have been examined by 

 Messrs. Schimmel, who report* that they have the same tufted 

 form as the German, but are lighter and nearly white, and are 

 provided with stronger rootlets. The A. anomala, which is 

 cultivated in the open fields in Japan under the name of Bii/akushi, 

 proved to be very poor in essential oil, the yield being only one- 

 tenth per cent., the oil also being essentially different from 

 commercial angelica oil. Whilst the German distillate has a sp. 

 gr. of 0-853 at 20'' C, that of the Japanese is 0-912 at the same 

 temperature. At 10^' C. it gives a separation of crystals, and at 

 0"^ it solidifies to a paste. The crystalline mass obtained by 

 cooling and draining had the properties of a fatty acid melting at 

 62^-63^ C. The oil boils between 170^ and 310^ C, the last 

 portion that passes over having a beautiful blue-green colour. 

 The residue solidifies upon cooling, and consists principally of the 

 non-volatile fatty acid. The odour of the oil is unusually intense 

 and persistent, more acrid than that of the German angelica oil, 

 but possessing the characteristic suggestion of musk. In the 

 succeeding Bericht. of the same firm it is stated that information 

 has been received from Mr. Murai, of Tokio, that the Angelica 

 anomala, Pallas (Syn. Angelica Japonica, J. Gray, Jap. Biyakushi), 

 above referred to, is cultivated in Japan on account of its roots. 

 Mr. Murai's experience as to the oil contents of the root 

 corresponds with that of Messrs. Schimmel. From roots 

 cultivated at the Botanical station in Tokio he obtained 0-074 per 

 cent., and from seed 0-67 per cent. The oil was of a greenish 

 colour, and had a strong odour resembling that of 77iusk. 



" Bericht., April, 1889. 



