AUSTRALIAN MELALEUCAS AND THEIR ESSENTIAL OILS. 201 



M. Maideni, R. T. B. M. leucadendron, var. lancifolia, 

 Bail. — Oasino, Port Macquarie, Brisbane and well 

 North. 



M. Smithii, R. T. B. — Port Jackson, Terrigal, Gosford. 



M. lancifolia, Turcz. — Piiilippine Islands. 



M. Cuminglana, Turcz. — Philippine Islands. 



M. lanceolata, R. Br. (Herb.) (M. Sieberi, Schau.) — 

 Neighbourhood of Port Jackson. 



VI. Chemistry of Essential Oils, 

 (a) "Cajuput" from Melaleuca minor. 

 This oil which was sent to us by Dr. M. Treub, of the 

 Royal Botanic Gardens, Buitenzorg, Java, was labelled 

 "kajoepoetih-olie." The oil was in appearance and 

 odour identical with that of ordinary "cajuput 1 ' of com- 

 merce. It had a distinct green colour, due entirely to 

 the presence of copper; the copper was removed and 

 determined as such. The odour of cineol was most marked, 

 and the secondary odour of the oil had a strong resem- 

 blance to that of terpineol. The crude oil had the following 

 characteristics : — 



Specific gravity at 15° O. = 0*9198. 

 Rotation a B = - 2*4° 

 Refractive index at 22° C. = 1*4666. 

 Saponification number = 5*46. 



Cineol, determined by resorcinol method, =68 percent. 

 Soluble in \\ volumes of 70 per cent, alcohol by weight 

 at 20° C. 



On rectification, the first portion contained some alde- 

 hyde, strongly indicating valeric aldehyde, but benz- 

 aldehyde was not detected. The lower boiling terpenes 

 were lsevo-rotatory. Below 195° C. (Oorr.) 77 per cent, 

 distilled. This portion boiling between 215-260° (15 per 

 cent.) was slightly dextro-rotatory, the rotation a D = +0*5°, 

 the sp. gr. = 0*9237, and refractive index at 22° = 1*4875. 



