()0 OIL-BKARING SEEDS INDIGENOUS TO QUEENSLAND 



K. T. Staiger* dealing with the fruit and oil of tlie 

 seed writes : — 



■ The shells of the fruit contain a dye soluble in soda, 

 but not in ether, alcohol or Avater. The kernel contains 

 64.8 ])er cent of oil, which is similar to common laurel 

 oil. is of the same consistency, and has, also, the same 

 stearine and narcotic smell." 



I have confirmed this observation with regard to the 

 black pigment of the " shell " and as to the general pro- 

 perties of the oil, which extracted from the seed proper 

 has a greenish tinge. 



A quantity of fruit was obtained in February from 

 a tree at Kelvin Grove, Brisbane. 



As it was impractical^le to remove the investing pericarp 

 from the seed, the extraction of the oil was made from the 

 ground whole fruit, and the oil obtained was dark brown 

 in colour, due to removal of portion of the colouring matter 

 of the " shell." 



With regard to the percentage of oil present, extrac- 

 tion with low boiling-point petrol yielded 28.0 per cent. 

 Since the " shell " constitutes approximately 35 per cent 

 by weight of the entire fruit, the percentage calculated 

 upon the seed proper or kernel to which its occurrence 

 is confined, is 43.0 per cent, a figure appreciably lower 

 than that given by Staiger. 



The obviously oily nature of the seed, to which the 

 popular name is attributable, has led to the chemical 

 examination of the oil. 



The seed is intensely Intter, and extraction of the oil 

 with solvents removes also the bitter principle. 



The Oil. 



The oil Avas extracted in bulk Avith ether, and is 

 dark broAATi in colour, slightly viscid, and of very bitter 

 taste. It possesses an oily and curious narcotic odour. 



* Quoted in " The Queensland Flora," p. 1316. 



