AUSTRALIAN MELALEUCAS AND THEIR ESSENTIAL OILS. 123: 
The oil glands were pronounced and numerous in the 
leaves of the younger material, but sparsely distributed in 
those of the old trees, and it was to this peculiarity that 
great variations in the yields of oil were experienced. This. 
variation in oil content in the leaves of the younger growth 
and in those from old trees is not restricted to the of Mela- 
leucas, and we had previously found this peculiarity to 
obtain with certain species of Kucalyptus, particularly 
EK, rubida. 
The yield of oil from 72 tbs. of leaves and terminal 
branchlets from old trees was less than half a cubic centi- 
metre of a dark coloured oil, and it was even necessary to 
remove it from the distillate by agitating with petroleum 
ether. The yield from the young material was equal to 0°7 
per cent. of a reddish-brown oil with a pronounced terpene 
odour. It was found to consist very largely of dextro- 
rotatory pinene, together with a little cineol and a high- 
boiling alcohol, most probably terpineol judging from the. 
odour. 
The crude oil from the young material had the following: 
constants :— 
Specific gravity at 15° C. = 0°8888. 
Rotation ay + 22°7° 
Refractive index at 22° = 1°4646. 
It required 7 volumes 80 per cent. alcohol to forma clear: 
solution. The saponification number for the esters was 
d°7, equal to 2 per cent. of terpinyl-acetate. After boiling 
with acetic anhydride and anhydrous sodium acetate in the. 
usual manner the saponification number was 18°6, indicating 
about 4 per cent. of free terpineol, if the alcoholic con- 
Stituent is considered to consist wholly of that substance. 
On rectification under atmospheric pressure no less than 
33 per cent. distilled between 155 and 158° (uncor. ) and 60: 
per cent. between 158 and 185’. 
