149 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from near Pokolbin, N.S.W., in August, 1907. The yield of oil was 

 1-6 per cent. 



The oil from this species is one of the best of the cineol-pinene class 

 of Eucalyptus oils, and compares favourabty with those from E. polybractea, 

 E. Smithii, and others. As it grows in the " Mallee " form the leaves would 

 not be difficult to collect, and if occurring in quantity should be profitable for 

 oil distillation.' The rectified oil was slightly tinged yellow, as are practically all 

 the rectified oils of this class. Cineol was the chief constituent, three-quarters 

 of the oil consisting of that substance. Pinene was present, but phellandrene 

 was absent. Although the pinene was dextro-rotatory, yet that form only 

 slightly predominated, consequently the rotations for the crude and rectified oils 

 were almost the same. The lower boiling aldehydes, butaldehyde and valeralde- 

 hyde, were present, as is usual with oils of the cineol-pinene class. The higher 

 boiling portion contained some sesquiterpene, and it is probable that- aromaden- 

 dral was also present in small amount. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. = 0-9237; rotation a D + 2-3; 

 refractive index at 20 = 1-4683, and was soluble in i-i volumes 70 per cent, 

 alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 3-2. 



On rectification the usual amount of acid water and volatile aldehydes 

 came over below 167 C. (corr.). Between 167-183, 89 per cent, distilled, and 

 between 183-250, 8 per cent, distilled. These fractions gave the following 

 results : 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15 C. = 0-9166; rotation a D + 2-2; refractive 



index at 20 = 1-4668. 



Second ,, = 0-9359; rotation a D + 0-6; refractive 



index at 20 = 1-4760. 



The cineol was determined by the phosphoric acid method ; the result was 

 74 per cent, of that constituent in the crude oil. 



79. Eucalyptus pulverulenta. 



(Sims, in Bot. Mag., t. 2087.) 

 (Syn. E. pulvigera, A. Cunn.) 



Systematic. A tall shrub, with a " weak green stem hardly able to 

 support itself " (Sims), the bark on the thicker stems is smooth, flaking off near 

 the base, where only specimens of the wood can be obtained. The lower parts of 

 the green stems have the appearance of rattans or palms by the scars left by the 

 base of the old deciduous leaves, which produce an effect somewhat similar to 

 the nodes of the bamboo. To our knowledge no other Eucalypt has this 

 character. Leaves sessile, ovate, cordate, orbicular or broadly ovate, obtuse, or 

 very shortly acuminate, not crenulate, or hardly perceptible, yellowish-green and 

 slightly shining, or mealy white, rigid, coriaceous ; venation distinct, lateral 

 veins spreading, intramarginal vein removed from the edge. Peduncles axillary, 



