59 



In August, 1919, Mr. A. R. Penfold distilled oil from the leaves of this 

 species growing in the Braidwood District, N.S.W. The oil agreed in constituents 

 and characters with those recorded above, and consisted practically of laevo-rotatory 

 pinene and crystallised eudesmol. Phellandrene was absent and cineol only 

 present in traces. The yield of oil was 1-45 per cent. The crude oil had specific 

 gravity at 15 C. == 0-9132; rotation (^--ig-i , refractive index at 20 = 

 1-4836. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 4. A 

 portion of the oil was acetylated in the usual way. The saponification number 

 was then 101-8, while in the cold with two hours' contact it was 20-8. The 

 high saponification number was largely due to the eudesmol. 



On rectification the oil commenced to distil at 154 C. Between 154-169, 

 35 per cent, distilled; between 169 and 190, 17 per cent, came over; between 

 190-268, 7 per cent, distilled ; and between 268-290, 38 per cent, distilled. 

 100 c.c. of the oil was then steam-distilled, and 60 per cent, collected. The 

 remainder in the flask soon crystallised into a solid mass, and pure eudesmol 

 was prepared from this. 



On rectifying the first distillate no less than 50 of the 60 per cent, distilled 

 between 155-157, principally at 156 C. This had specific gravity at 15 = 

 0-8625 ; at 20 = 0-8588. Specific rotation [] D 50-18, and is thus one of the 

 highest laevo-rotatory pinenes known. The pure eudesmol had specific rotation 

 [] + 27-07, and melted at 79-80 C. 



21. Eucalyptus alpina. 



(Lindl. Mitch., Three Exp., II, 175, 1838.) 



Systematic. A stunted tree or shrub ; branchlets stout, rugose. Normal 

 leaves on thick petiole, from broad oblong lanceolate to roundish, thick, 

 coriaceous ; intramarginal vein well removed from the edge ; venation oblique. 

 Oil glands not prominent. Flowers sessile in the axils, from one to five together. 

 Buds about 5 lines long, warty-rough ; operculum irregularly semi-ovate, or 

 semi-globular. Calyx tube nearly hemispherical, as long or slightly longer than 

 the lid. 



Fruits. Broad, almost hemispherical, comparatively 

 large when full grown (as shown in accom- 

 panying plate), sometimes ribbed ; rim 

 broad, convex, highly domed, slightly con- 

 cave or truncate ; valves well exserted, 

 prominent ; from 5 to 9 lines in diameter. 



Perhaps the nearest Eucalyptus fruits to these in shape 

 are those of E. globulus and E. cosmophylla. 



Habitat. The Grampians, Victoria. 



REMARKS. This Alpine Eucalyptus does not present much difficulty in systematic placing. The leaves 

 are thick and leathery, and the buds roughly warted, like those of E. globulus. Maiden is inclined to regard it as 

 a variety of E. capitellata, "Critical Revision" Vol. I, p. 260. Morphologically and chemically, however, it is 

 not at all closely connected with either of those species. 



