OIL FROM THE SEEDS OF BURSARIA SPINOSA. 399 



CHEMICAL EXAMINATION of the OIL from the 

 SEEDS of BURSARIA SPINOSA (BLACKTHORN). 



By E. Griffiths, b.sc, Junior Demonstrator in Chemistry, 



University of Sydney. 



(Communicated by Prof. J. A. Schofield). 



IRead before the Royal Society of N. S. Wales, December 1, 1909.'] 



The fruit from which the seeds were obtained was collected 

 during March and April along the Nepean at Camden. In 

 order to obtain some idea of the nature and amount of 

 extract yielded to the various solvents, a small quantity 

 (20 grams) of the finely ground air-dried seed was first 

 extracted in the cold, with the following solvents in the 

 order given. The solvent was removed from the extract 

 by evaporation and the residue dried to constant w r eight in 

 a steam oven. 



Petroleum ether (b. p. up to 45° C.) removed 17*21°f 



Ether 0*3 



Alcohol (9(H) 9*4 



The petroleum ether extract consisted of a yellow trans- 

 parent oil which did not solidify at ordinary temperature. 

 On passing a stream of the oxides of nitrogen, generated 

 from HNO s and starch through a few drops of the oil and 

 allowing to stand over-night a solid elaidin was formed. 

 The oil was completely soluble in ether and hot alcohol and 

 was readily saponified by hot alcoholic potash. 



Systematic Examination of the Oil.— In order to obtain 

 sufficient oil to determine its constituents and constants, 

 730 grams of the finely powdered air-dried seeds were 

 thoroughly exhausted by petroleum ether (b. p. up to 45°C.) 

 in a continuous percolator. The extract was evaporated 



