239 



Whatever tree is now placed under the name it must be a sine qua nan that it is identical with the " Cider 

 Tree " of Tasmania, for that was the original intention of Hooker. His description accords with that particular 

 tree, and Bentham's reproduction in " Flora Australiensis " (iii, p. .: |<>), equally so. for it accurately describes tl>;- 

 material in this Museum obtained from the Tasmanian " Cider Tree." by L. G. Irby, Conservator of Forests, 

 Tasman'a. acting under Mr. L. Rodway's direction. 



Mr. Irby states in this connection : " This tree gets its local name from a sweet exudation which Hows-from 

 it at certain times of the year. This exudation appears to be just the sap of the tree, for by cutting the bark the 

 sweet flavour may be tasted at any time. Where wounded the sap exudes, and crystallises as it Hows down the 

 side of the tree. At this time of the year (taay) the ' cider ' will only How in small quantities, and cannot be collected. 

 I was informed by local residents that to obtain it in any quantity it is necessary to tap the trees during the spring 

 or summer months. Like manna, this exudation is of a very pleasing flavour, and is rather sought after in conse- 

 quence. Opossums are extremely fond of it. as also are many birds. I am also informed that at certain times of 

 the year the wattle birds appear to almost live on it." 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Material for distillation was collected at Interlaken, 

 Tasmania, in May, 1912. The yield of oil from the leaves and terminal branchlets 

 was 0-39 per cent. The crude oil was dark-coloured, and had a terpene odour, 

 together with that of cineol. The chief constituents in the oil of this species 

 were dextro-rotatory pinene, laevo-rotatory phellandrene, cineol, a sesquiterpene, 

 and a small amount of ester. The dextro-rotation of the higher-boiling portion 

 suggests the presence of the liquid form of eudesmol. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. --- 0-9014; rotation D + 1-5; 



refractive index at 20 = 1-4743, and was soluble in 4 volumes 80 per cent, alcohol. 



On rectification, a small amount of acid water and volatile aldehydes came 



over below 165 C. (corr.). Between 165-173, 30 per cent, distilled; between 



173-198, 52 per cent. ; the thermometer then rose to 254, and between 254- 



270 14 per cent, distilled. These fractions gave the following results : 



First fraction, sp. gr. at 15 C. ---- 0-8813; rotation a + 5-4; refractive 



index at 20 = 1-4671. 

 Second ,, ,, ,, - 0-8930; rotation - 4-2; refractive 



index at 20 = 1-4677. 

 Third ,, ,, = 0-9377; rotation D + 8-9; refractive 



index at 20 = 1-5004. 



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

 below 198, and calculated for the crude oil; the result was 41 per cent. By 

 the rapid phosphoric acid method it was 26 per cent, when calculated 

 for the crude oil. 



The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 6-7. The 

 results of this investigation show the oil of this species to be distinct from that 

 of E. camphor a of New South Wales. E. Gunnii has no value as an oil-producing 

 tree; the yield is small, and the main constituents have no special value in the 

 amounts present. 



In March and April, 1913, material for distillation was sent by Mr. L. G. Irby 

 from Mount Kosciusko, N.S.W. Two consignments were forwarded, one consisting 

 of mature lanceolate leaves and terminal branchlets only, the other of abnormal 

 leaves only. The idea was to see what differences, if any, were observable in 

 the oils obtained from the two forms of growth. 



The results indicate that the oil from the abnormal leaves contains rather 

 more dextro-rotatory pinene than does that from the mature leaves, thus following 

 apparently the general rule in this direction ; otherwise the oils were in marked 

 agreement, and the results also in conformity with those of the oil distilled from 

 material of this species from Tasmania, as recorded above. The dextro-rotation 

 of the higher boiling fractions is evidently due to the presence of the liquid form 

 of eudesmol, as no crystals could be detected with either sample. The 

 cineol was more abundant in the Tasmanian oil than in the others, and in slightly 

 larger amount in the mature leaves of the New South Wales material. The 



