ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS xli. 



with intent to regulate the relations of the sexes, but had 

 been developed in accordance with surrounding circum- 

 stances and conditions of life. 



Some remarks were made by Mr. R. Helms. 



4. "On an undescribed species of Leptospermum and its 

 Essential Oil," by R. T. Baker, p.l.s., Curator, and 

 H. G. Smith, f.c.s., Assistant Curator, Technological 

 Museum, Sydney. 

 " The Lemon-scented Leptospermum." The species 

 described in this paper occurs in the North Coast District 

 of New South Wales and the Southern Coast District of 

 Queensland. It is a shrub attaining a height from 6 to 12 

 feet, with erect branches and small, lanceolate, ovate 

 leaves ; the flowers occurring in the axils of the leaves on 

 the upper branchlets. The fruits measure about two to 

 three lines in diameter. Its differentiation from described 

 species is based on both morphological and chemical char- 

 acters, although the former are alone sufficiently marked 

 to warrant its specific rank. It may possibly in the past, 

 have been confused with some of the varieties of L. 

 flcivescens,bi\t apart from well marked taxonomic characters 

 none of those species give a lemon-scented odour. The 

 leaves and terminal branchlets of this plant yielded 0*227°/o 

 of an essential oil containing a considerable amount of citral. 

 This appears to be the first time that the oils of the Leptos- 

 permums have been investigated, and the indications for 

 the previously described species are not commercially 

 promising. However, other species will be worked as 

 opportunity offers. The marked lemon odour given by the 

 leaves when crushed appears to be characteristic of this 

 species, and is an aid in its discrimination. Besides citral 

 (35"/°) the oil contained dextro-rotatory pinene (25f°), an 

 alcohol considered to be geraniol (9*74°/°), an ester most 

 probably geranyl-acetate (5*35°/") and a sesquiterpene. 



