i 24 



On rectification, I per cent, distilled below 158° C. (corr.). Between 

 158-172°, 61 per cent, distilled ; bet wren 172 193°, 24 per cent, came over, leaving 

 14 per cent, boiling above 193°. The two fractions and the residue gave the 

 following results : — 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15 C. = 0-8929; rotation a lt + i7 - 4° : refractive 



index at 20° = 1-4644. 

 Second ,, ,, = 0-9105; rotation a D + 6-5°; refractive 



index at 20° = 1-4660. 

 Residue ,, ,, = 0-9582 ; rotation too dark ; refractive 



index at 20° = 1-4950. 

 The saponification number for the residue was 13-4, and in the cold with 

 two hours' contact it was 13-1. The saponified oil was very aromatic. 



The cineol was determined by the resorcinol method in the portion distilling 

 between 158-193° ; when calculated for the crude oil, the result was 45 per cent. 

 A determination by the rapid phosphoric acid method in the crude oil gave 43 per 

 cent. 



The rectified oil was tinged yellow, a feature common with the oils of the 

 " Gum " group. 



64. Eucalyptus vernicosa. 



(Hook., f. in Lond. Jour. Bot., vi, 478, 1847.) 



Systematic. — A bushy shrub or small tree, from 4 to 20 feet high. Bark 

 smooth, dark red-brown, rough. Leaves alternate or opposite, oval, ovate 

 or almost orbicular, crowded, thick, coriaceous, shining, obtuse or mucronate, 

 shortly petiolate, mostly under 1 inch long; venation not prominent, lateral 

 veins fairly transverse. The closely arranged leaf scars on the branchlets are very 

 conspicuous. Flowers sessile, from one to three, on very short axillary, angular 

 peduncles. Calyx tube thick, conical, often ribbed, 2 to 3 lines long; operculum 

 shorter, acuminate. 



Fruit.— Semi-ovoid or expanded slightly at the 

 orifice ; rim convex ; valves not ex- 

 serted or only slightly so ; 3 lines long 

 and almost 3 lines in diameter. 



Habitat. — Confined to high elevations in Tasmania. 



REMARKS. — Rodway suggests in his " Flora of Tasmania " (p. 58), that it is just possible that this 

 species is a mountain form of E. Muelleri, but we are of opinion that technology at least, from a forestry or 

 timber point of view, would be better served if the two were recognised as distinct — vide note under that 

 species. " This Eucalypt has the same form of leaves throughout its life history, which E. Muelleri does not 

 appear to have." — L. G. Irby. 



ESSENTIAL OIL.- Material for distillation was obtained on the Hartz 

 Mountains, Tasmania, in May, 1912, and reached Sydney in excellent condition. 

 The yield of oil was 0-8 per cent. The crude oil was but little coloured, and was 

 rich in cineol. It contained, however, rather a large amount of dextro-rotatory 

 pinene, consequently the specific gravity was somewhat low ; this result was 

 also influenced by the remarkable freedom from high-boiling constituents, and 

 no less than 96 per cent, of the crude oil distilled below 194° C. The terpene 

 phellandrene was absent in the oil of this species. 



