878 : H. G. SMITH. 
from rutin obtained from Rue (Ruta graveolens), the sugar from 
that substance being rhamnose. 
After making the announcement to the Society, I forwarded a 
small quantity of myrticolorin, and quercetin obtained from it, to 
Mr. A. G. Perkin in England, who is so well known as an authority 
on the natural yellow dyes; he informs me that myrticolorin is 
certainly a glucoside of quercetin, and that it is quercetin is proved 
by the formation of acetyl quercetin melting at 189 — 191°C. He 
also suggested that from its greenish tint it might be identical 
with rutin ; the greenish tinge, however, is not constant, it being 
wanting in some material I obtained later when this was entirely 
purified from water. To Mr. Perkin for the assistance so readily 
given me, and also for his advice and promised help towards 
making the product commercially known, I wish to tender my 
sincere thanks. 
(b) That it is to be obtained in large quantities is indicated by 
the extent of the range of this species of Eucalypt, it extending 
over a large portion of this colony and Victoria ; and particularly 
from the fact that the dried leaves contain no less than ten pet 
cent. of myrticolorin. This is the result of quantitative deter- 
minations on material obtained from near Rylstone in this 
colony. As myrticolorin contains from forty-eight to fifty per 
cent. of quercetin, the actual content of quercetin in the dried 
leaves may be taken as near five per cent. As only this substance 
is of use for dyeing purposes, the value is of course judged on the 
amount of quercetin present. 
(c) That the mode of extraction is exceedingly simple may be : 
understood when it is stated that all that is required is to care 
fully dry and powder the leaves, boil the powder in water and — 
pass the boiling liquid through a filter cloth. As the water cools 
the yellow substance crystallises out, and when cold it is again 
filtered through a cloth, the yellow myrticolorin remaining behind 
while the tannic acid and other substances in solution pass aW4Y- 
The myrticolorin can then be washed with clean water, P 
