82 A. R. PENFOLD. 
OBSERVATIONS RESPEOTING SOME ESSENTIAL 
OILS FROM LEPTOSPERMUM LIVERSIDGEI. 
By A. R. PENFOLD, F.C.S. 
[ Read before the Royal Society of N. S. Wales, July 5, 1922.] 
THIS particular species of Leptospermum was first described 
in the Proceedings of this Society, Vol. xxxrx, (1905) page 
124, by Messrs. Baker and Smith. The chemical and 
physical constants and composition of its essential oil, as 
then given, were as follows, viz:— 
Percentage yield of oil re wie | | OF22 
Specific gravity at 15°C. ... ... 0°8895 
Optical rotation aa fea es 2) ares 
Refractive index, 16° C. 4e3 w. 1°4903 
Citral .... sate Sa ie sal 35% 
Citronellal sine Ae ... not detected 
The non-aldehydic portion of the oil was stated to consist 
of geraniol, and its acetic acid ester (about 157), d-«-pinene 
(25%), sesquiterpene and undetermined (25%). 
During the past few years the author has had occasion 
to examine a number of the oils distilled by himself from 
this shrub with somewhat variable results. These have 
been supplemented by the observation that upon crushing 
up the leaves between the fingers, both of herbarium speci- 
mens and of cultivated plants, totally distinct odours have 
been evolved, in some instances citral, and in others 
citronellal being readily detected. It is just possible that 
conditions of environment may be responsible for these 
differences, but some considerable time must elapse before 
such evidence, either for or against is forthcoming. Mean- 
while, the writer is inclined to the conclusion that in all 
probability there are at least two distinct forms, and not 
unlikely three, of this shrub, viz:— 
