164. Eucalyptus Andrew si. 



(J.H.M., Proc. Linn. Soc., N.S.W., 1904, p. 472.) 

 New England Peppermint. 



Systematic.- A tall tree averaging 80 feet in height, reaching in some 

 situations 150 to 180 feet (J.H.M ) ; bark "Peppermint' like. Abnormal 

 leaves ovate., alternate, glaucous, about 5 inches long and 2 inches broad. Normal 

 leaves lanceolate to broad-lanceolate, falcate, acuminate, usually under 6 inches 

 long; intramarginal vein removed from the edge, lateral veins very oblique. 

 Flowers in umbels or sometimes in panicles, peduncles axillary or lateral. Buds 

 clavate, pedicellate ; operculum somewhat shorter than the calyx tube, shortly 

 pointed. 



Fruit. Hemispherical to turbinate, pedicellate ; 

 rim broad, slightly domed ; valves scarcely 

 exserted ; 3 lines long and 3 lines in dia- 

 meter. 



The nearest in resemblance to these fruits amongst its 

 congeners are those of E. dives. 



Habitat. New England, New South Wales ; Southern Queens- 

 land. 



REMARKS. This is one of the many Eucalypts going under the common name of "Peppermints" in 

 New England, where it is also known as "Blackbutt" and "Messmate." The former, however, is the more 

 appropriate. 



ESSENTIAL OIL. Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were 

 obtained from Tenterfield in January, IQIO. The material was collected as would 

 be done for commercial distillation The yield of oil was 1-27 per cent. The 

 crude oil was of a lemon-yellow tint, and had a secondary odour of peppermint. 

 It had all the appearances and characters of a " Peppermint " Eucalyptus oil, 

 and resembled very closely those distilled from the group of which E. dives may 

 perhaps be considered the type. The principal constituents in the oil were laevo- 

 rotatory phellandrene, piperitone, and the sesquiterpene, of which the first pre- 

 dominated greatly, in fact this species may be considered as yielding one of the 

 most pronounced phellandrene-bearing Eucalyptus oils of the whole group not 

 even excepting E. radial a. Pinene appears to be quite absent, and cineol was 

 onjy detected with difficulty. The amount of ester was very small, and this 

 might be expected for an oil of this nature. 



The crude oil had specific gravity at 15 C. == 0-8646; rotation c 41-5; 

 refractive index at 20 = 1-4831, and was insoluble in 10 volumes 80 per cent, 

 alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 4-3. 



After acetylation, the saponification number was 57-67, which calculated 

 for free alcohol having a C ?0 H l8 O molecule, gives 15-3 per cent. The ketone, 

 absorption was 5 per cent, The alcohol was probably piperito! largely. 



