AUSTRALIAN MELALEUCAS AND THEIR ESSENTIAL OILS. 65 
the crude oil. The saponification number for the esters 
was 3°'1. A portion of the oil was esterised in the usual 
way; 1°999 gram of this required ‘0672 gram KOH, thus 
giving a saponification number = 33°6. This shows the 
presence of a fair amount of an alcohol and which gave an 
odour to the saponified oil with a striking resemblance to 
that of borneol when treated under the same conditions. 
The crude oil was not soluble in 10 volumes 70% alcohol, 
or any quantity below that amount, but the rectified oil, 
distilling below 183° C., was soluble in 1°3 volumes of 70? 
alcohol and remained clear with 10 volumes. With 4 
2 
° 
volume of 80% alcohol, or with the same amount of 90% 
alcohol, the crude oil dissolved but became very turbid 
with 15 volumes and did not clear again with 10 volumes. 
The rectified oil was soluble in all proportions with both 
80 and 90% alcohol. This peculiarity of solubility in alcohol 
distinguishes the crude oil of this species of Melaleuca 
from any of the crude Hucalyptus oils rich in eucalyptol. 
As the third fraction was soluble in 1°2 volumes 70%) 
alcohol, it appears that the constituent which is insoluble 
in alcohol is not volatile under ordinary distillation. The 
crude oil of M. linariifolia was soluble in excess of 80% 
alcohol, thus differing from the oil of this species. 
The comparative absence of high boiling constituents 
in the oil of M. thymifolia accounts for the somewhat low 
specific gravity, and it cannot therefore replace oil of 
cajuput while the pharmacopoeia standard remains as at 
present, a standard in which the specific gravity, 0°922 to 
0°930 is required. Whether there is now any need for such 
a standard is questionable. 
(2). Melaleuca linariifolia, Sm., B. FI., iii. p. 140. ‘Tea 
Tree.’ This is one of the tallest of tea trees and occurs 
in the coast district of New South Wales and Southern 
Queensland. 
E—Aug. 1, 1906, 
