260 ODOROGRAPHIA. 



colour it is bright yellow, sp. gr. 0-918, boiling point 0.152°- 

 175° C. 100 lbs. of fresh leaves yielded 90 ozs. of oil. 



E. piperita is mentioned by Maiden amongst other species 

 referred to in his paper already quoted* as the Xew South AVales 

 " Peppermint tree," " well known for the abundance of oil its leaves 

 contain, and which attracts attention during the very first year of 

 settlement in Australia. Oil is made from it on a commercial 

 scale in at least one district." This oil does not seem to be known 

 commercially in Europe. Other trees of similar properties are 

 mentioned by Eaveret "Wattel ; these are : — 



E. melliodora, Cunningham, commonly known as" Box tree," 

 " Yellow Box tree " and '' Peppermint tree." This tree seems to 

 prefer rather open and high-lying localities. Cordier says humidity 

 does not suit it. 



E. odorata, Schl., is also known as a "Peppermint tree." It 

 succeeds best on calcareous soil in elevated situations which are not 

 overshadowed. As it does not suffer by drought, it is one of the 

 species intended for trial in the Algerian Sahara, having already 

 been grown with success in light dry soil in Algeria. It is 

 unknown in Tasmania, and is only known on the Australian 

 continent. 



Some time ago, samples of oil labelled E. odorata, were reportedf 

 as having been received from Adelaide, which, on examination, 

 were found to consist of a crude oil, sp. gr. 0-907 at 15° C, and a 

 rectified oil, sp. gr. 0-909 at 18° C, both of which gave a strong 

 eucalyptol reaction with hydrobromic acid, but no phellandrene 

 could be detected. In addition there was some " residue from the 

 rectification," which appeared to be the portion of the oil having the 

 highest boiling point (boiling between 220° and 260° C). This 

 fraction, which is a brown liquid, and has a sp. gr. of 0-945, is said 

 to be sought after in Australia as a soap perfume. Its odour is said 

 to strongly resemble cuminol, the presence in it of which body has 

 been detected. 



E. odorata, Behr., is mentioned by Maiden :|: as being found 



* Pharm. Journ. of Australia, 13th March, 1892. 

 t Schimmel, Beiicht., Oct., 1889. 

 X Useful Native plants of Australia. 



