ESSENTIAL O1L OF KRIOSTEMON CROWEI. 227 
THE ESSENTIAL OIL OF KRIOSTEMON CROWEI 
(CROWEA SALIGNA) AND THE PRESENCE 
OF A NEW PHENOL ETHER. 
PART I. 
By A. R. PENFOLD, F.c.S. and I’. R. MORRISON. 
Technological Museum, Sydney. 
[Read before the Royal Society of N. S. Wales, December 6, 1922. | 
THE botany of this plant was described by Baron von 
Mueller in ‘‘ Plants of Victoria,’ 1, 119 (1860) and also in 
“Flora Australiensis,”’ Vol.1, page 329, under Croweasaligna 
(Andrew). Itis an erect shrub growing to a height of 
approximately four feet with bright green glossy leaves 
and deep rose-pink flowers. It occurs fairly plentifully in 
the coastal districts of New South Wales, being usually 
found on the rocky slopes adjacent to creeks and rivers, 
and often close to the waters edge. The material for this 
investigation was collected at Middle Harbour where it is 
found in quantity in the particular habitat referred to. On 
crushing the leaves between the fingers a characteristic 
odour is evolved bearing a strong resemblance to safrol, 
which we believed to be the odoriferous constituent. It 
was not until the examination of the oil was in progress 
when endeavouring to separate the safrol that the higher 
boiling point of the principal fraction, 130—132° C. at 10 
mm. (safrol boils at 109—110° ©. at 10 mm.) showed it was 
not that phenol ether. 
The Essential Oil. 
The oils obtained from two consignments of leaves and 
terminal branchlets were of a bright yellow colour, heavier 
than water and highly refractive, with a characteristic 
