N. 0. ROSACiE. 517 



Differences between Almond and Apricot kernel oil. 



Apricot Kernel 

 oil. 



Iodine value 

 Saponification value 



Zeiss butyro-refractometer reading at 

 25°c. 



Refractive index at 25°c. 



1-4645 



Apricot kernels contain from 40 to 45 per cent, of an almost colourless oil 

 which becomes yellow on keeping. Apricot oil is so similar to almond oil in 

 its physical and chemical characters that most ot the figures for these 

 constants are of very little use for the purpose of identification. Apricot 

 oil, however, with nitric acid, specific gravity 1*4, assumes an orange colour, 

 and with Bieber's reagent a peach-blossom colour is obtained. Bieber's test 

 is carried out by agitating five volumes of oil with one volume of a mixture 

 consisting of equal parts (by weight) of concentrated sulphuric acid, fuming 

 nitric acid, and water. Pure almond oil does not change in colour, whereas 

 apricot kernel oil gives a pink (peach-blossom) colour, and peach kernel a 

 faint pink colouration after standing some time. Mixtures containing 25 per 

 cent, of apricot oil cannot be detected with certainty by means oi this test, 



462. P. Cerasus, Linn, h.f.b.i., ii. 313. Roxb. 

 403. 



7em.:— Alu-balu (U. P.); Gfilas, olchi (Pb.) 



Habitat : — Cultivated in the Himalayas, the Punjab and t he- 

 United Provinces. 



A middle-sized tree, the bark peeling off m horizontal 

 stripes. Leaves elliptic or obovate, abruptly acuminate, irregu- 

 larly crenate, serrate ; petioles less than breadth of leaf, 2 glands 

 on petiole or on the base of the blade, stipules fimbriate. 

 Flowers white, on long slender pedicels, in fascicles of 2-5, from 

 lateral, generally leaf-bearing, buds. Calyx turbinate, lobes 

 obtuse. Drupes glabrous, with a polished round stone. 



Uses:— The bark which is bitter, is said to possess febrifugal 

 properties. The kernel is supposed to be a nervine tonic, and 

 is used for the same purposes as hydrocyanic acid, of which it 

 contains a considerable proportion. (Watt). 



