194 



Between 174-188 C. (corr.), 80 per cent, distilled; between 188-210, 

 7 per cent., and between 210-232, 4 per cent, distilled. These fractions gave the 

 following results : 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15 C. : : 0-9211; rotation a D - - 2-95. 

 Second ,, ,, : 0-9274; ,, CI D - 5-34. 



Third ,, ,, ,, = 0-9439; ,, not taken. 



The cineol in the crude oil, determined by the phosphoric acid method in the 

 first fraction, was 54 per cent. (O.M.). The la^vo-rotation of the oil was due to 

 the aromadendral. 



101. Eucalyptus odorata. 



(Behr. in Linnsea, XX, 657.) 

 Box-tree or Peppermint. 



Systematic. A small tree, or ' Mallee," bark "Box "-like. Abnormal 

 leaves linear to broadly lanceolate, dull, often glaucous or bluish green. Normal 

 leaves narrow lanceolate, rigid, of a dull green or somewhat shining ; intra- 

 marginal vein somewhat removed from the edge ; venation oblique, about 30 from 

 the mid-rib. Peduncles mostly axillary, J to \ inch long, bearing about seven 

 almost sessile flowers. Buds clavate ; calyx tube tapering gradually to peduncle 

 and about twice as long as the conical obtuse operculum. 



Fruit. Cylindrical to sometimes pyriform, almost 

 sessile, more or less angular ; rim counter- 

 sunk ; valves scarcely or not exserted ; 

 about 4 lines long and up to 3 lines broad. 



It is very difficult at times to differentiate these fruits 

 from those of E. dumosa or perhaps E. paniculata 



Habitat. New South Wales ; Victoria ; and South Australia. 



REMARKS. Behr's species is acknowledged in Bentham's "Flora Australiensis " and Mueller's 

 " Eucalyptographia," and later by Maiden in his " Critical Revision of the Eucalypts," vol. ii, Part I, p. 26, as well 

 as in the Trans. Roy. Soc. S.A., 1903, where he goes fully into the synonymy of the species. 



With most of this latter synonymy we are not in accord, especially in placing E. Lansdowniana un-ler E. 

 odorata. Brown, in his " Florest Flora of South Australia," figures both species, and if any reliance can be placed 

 in delineation, greater differences could not be illustrated. Brown's figure is what we regard as E. Woollsiana. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Material for distillation was collected at the Kingscote 

 end of Kangaroo Island in July, 1911. This species is considered by Eucalyptus 

 oil distillers of Kangaroo Island to be of equal value with E. cneorifolia for oil 

 production. 



The origin of the name " Peppermint " for this species could not be traced, 

 and it seems to be altogether a misnomer, as the ketone of peppermint odour 

 (piperitone) appears to be absent in this oil, the characteristic high-boiling 

 constituent being aromadendral. The name " Peppermint ' is also given to 

 Eucalyptus species in New South Wales, the oils of which do not contain piperitone, 

 nor do their oils have a peppermint odour. The oils of the true " Peppermint " 

 Eucalyptus species usually contain the terpene phellandrene, piperitone being 

 also a characteristic constituent, 



