STRINGYBARK TREES AND THEIR ESSENTIAL OILS. 113 



before these researches are completed, to be able to account for 

 this, because the oil of E. piperita 1 does contain eudesmol in that 

 fraction, although the fraction is smaller than in the case of E. 

 capitellata. The oil of E. piperita also contains phellandrene, 

 whilst that of E. capitellata contains only a trace of phellandrene. 

 It is apparent, therefore, that the oil of E. capitellata resembles that 

 of E. macrorhyncJia and belongs to the same type. In composition 

 the oil of E. piperita resembles somewhat that of E. capitellata, 

 and might fill the vacant place in the list between E. capitellata 

 and E. eugenioides did it not contains eudesmol, as the crude oil 

 is light coloured and resembles E. eugenioides in that respect. The 

 oil from E. eugenioides does not contain a trace of phellandrene. 2 



Oil of E. eugenioides. 

 This oil was obtained from leaves collected near Canterbury, 

 and were distilled soon after removal from the trees. Two results 

 were obtained, 670 lbs. of leaves being distilled. 



No. 1. Oil from leaves collected at Canterbury, distilled 18th 

 June, 1897; almost colourless; odour fairly pleasant; yield = 0-689 

 per cent., or 100 lbs. of leaves with branchlets gave 11 ounces of 

 oil; specific gravity as obtained = 0-908 at 22° C. ; the specific 

 rotation was + 3745°. On redistillation of 100 cc, a little water 

 was first obtained as usual ; below 166° only a few drops had come 

 over, the distillation then commenced, but the thermometer slowly 

 rose to 171-4° by which time 3 per cent, had been obtained, the 

 distillation then continued regularly. (See tabulated results). 

 First fraction 21%; sp. gr. = 0-899, specific rotation +4-6° 

 Second „ 69%; „ =0-904, „ +2-9° 



Eucalyptol, crude oil = 31-4 % ; section fraction = 34*8 %. 



1 Proc. Roy. Soc. N.S.W., August 1897, 195. 



2 The detection of phellandrene in these oils was carried out as follows : 

 2 cc. of the oil was added to 3 cc. of an aqueous saturated solution of 

 sodium nitrite in a test tube, and without agitation 8 or 10 drops of 

 glacial acetic acid was added. On standing some time, half to two hours, 

 a crystalline crust forms at the junction of the liquids if phellandrene be 

 present, this will separate and float in the oil. If much phellandrene be 

 present fresh crystalline crusts form until the oil becomes almost solid. 



H— July 6, 1898. 



