AUSTRALIAN VEGETABLE EXUDATIONS. 397 
Pentaceras australis, Hook.f. (N.O. Rutacez). 
“Serub Hickory.” 
Collected at Mullumbimby, Brunswick River, N. S. Wales. 
The colour, appearance, and physical characteristics of this gum 
almost exactly resemble the gum of Melicope (Bouchardatia ) 
neurococca, with the exception that the tears are slightly longer. 
Tn water a portion only goes into solution, while the remainder 
is soluble in dilute soda solution on heating. The solutions give 
the arabin precipitates, with formation of arabinose when treated 
with dilute sulphuric acid, as described already under Geyera 
Muelleri. A soda solution when heated becomes quite dark. No 
nitrogen was detected in two determinations. 
The gum contains 11-12 per cent. of moisture, and only 1:73 
per cent. of ash. The ash is white, and contains the same con- 
stituents as that of Geijera Muelleri. Ferric chloride gives no 
precipitate and only darkens the solution slightly. The other 
usual reagents gave no marked reactions. The aqueous portion 
possesses little adhesiveness. The yield of mucic acid is very 
small, thus showing an important difference from the other gums 
of the Rutacex here described. 
These three gums belonging to the Rutacew, viz, Geijera 
Mueller, Melicope (Bouchardatia) neurococca, and Pentaceras 
australis, resemble each other in a marked manner, by their 
solubility in water and soda, low ash, brittle nature, and bright 
conchoidal fracture, the latter differing from the other two by not 
Containing albuminoids and giving only a very small quantity 
of mucic acid on treatment with nitric acid. 
Capparis nobilis, F.v.M. (N. O. Capparidez). 
‘Wild Lemon.” 
Collected at Woodburn, Richmond River, N. S. Wales. 
This sample is in small particles, or small vermiform tears, 
Semi-transparent, and of a horny texture, does not dissolve in cold 
water but swells up to an enormous extent. On boiling, the 
‘Particles partly disintegrate but do not dissolve. 
