AUSTRALIAN MELALEUCAS AND THEIR ESSENTIAL OILS. 209 



the leaf it boils under atmospheric pressure at 275 — 277° O. 

 with scarcely any decomposition, but the older oil splits 

 off water more readily. Under reduced pressure the main 

 fraction boiled at 163-165° at 33 mm. 



Analysis gave the following results : — 0*1855 gram, gave 

 0*5526 gram. 0O 2 and 0*1936 gram. H 2 0. = 81*24 and 

 H = 11*6 per cent. Oi 5 H 26 requires = 81*08 and H=ll*71 

 per cent. 



The specific gravity of the directly distilled alcohol, 

 boiling within one degree of temperature, was 0*886 at 15°0. 

 and the refractive index at 20° = 1*488. These figures 

 roughly indicate a molecular refraction corresponding to 

 that required for a sesquiterpene alcohol with three double 

 linkings. The essential oil of tbis Melaleuca is thus shown 

 to differ in constituents from that of any other species of 

 Melaleuca so far determined, and consequently the product 

 of this tree promises to be of considerable scientific interest, 

 and possibly of commercial value. Further work will now 

 be done upon it. 



Rose Bay Trees (18/12/1911). 

 The sample of oil from the Rose Bay material was but 

 little coloured, being of a light lemon-yellow. The odour 

 had no resemblance to that of "cajuput," being somewhat 

 delicate and perhaps characteristic. 



Although somewhat viscid in character, and consisting 

 almost entirely of high boiling constituents, yet, the specific 

 gravity of the crude oil was exceptionally low. The yield 

 of oil from the leaves with terminal branchlets was 0*61 

 per cent. The crude oil had 



Specific gravity at 15° O. = 0*8815. 



Rotation a D = -f 11°.8. 



Refractive index at 22° = 1*4812. 



Soluble in 1*7 volumes 70 per cent, alcohol by weight. 



Saponification number for ester and free acid « 3*04. 



N— November 5, 1913. 



