— 93 — 



a Melaleuca Oils. In our last April Report (p. 81) we referred to the 

 oils of Melaleuca trichostachya and bracteata, which Baker and Smith had 

 discussed in a paper read before the Royal Society of N.S.Wales. Since 

 then the authors have published more precise details on these distillates 1 ), 

 from which we abstract the following: Oil of Melaleuca trichostachya, Lindl. 2 ) 

 is obtained from the dry leaves, the yield being from 1,25 to 2,58 °/o, and 

 the constants as follow: d 15 o 0,9144 to 0,9153, « D + 2,3 to 3,1°, n D20O 1,4636 

 to 1,4655, sap. v. 2,1 to 2fi y ester v. after acet. 13,9, soluble in 1,3 vols 

 70°/o alcohol. In addition to about 80% cineole (determined by the re- 

 sorcinol method), the oil probably contains pinene. As regards esters, 

 the authors proved the occurence of terpinyl acetate; they identified the 

 terpineol from the reaction with hydriodic acid (formation of dipentene 

 dihydriodide, m. p. 77°). The oil further contains traces of phenols and 

 of low-boiling aldehydes, as well as a sesquiterpene (?), sp.gr. 0,934; n D 1,4985. 



Oil of Melaleuca bracteata, F. v. M. This oil, which is prepared from 

 the leaves and branches (yield 0,643 to 0,964°/o) possesses the following 

 constants: di 8 o 1,032 to di 9 o 1,0358, « D — 1,4 to — 3,1, n D20O 1,5325 to 1,535, 

 acid v. 0,7 to 1,26, sap. v. 5,3 to 20,8. Ester v- of the saponified oil after 

 acet. 24,57, sol. in 0,7 to 0,8 vols. 70°/o alcohol. It contains 0,36% eugenol 

 (m. p. of the benzoyl compound 68 to 69°), 0,33% free cinnamic acid as 

 well as cinnamic acid in combination (m. p. 133°), traces of cinnamic 

 aldehyde, a little Z-phellandrene (m. p. of the nitrite 120°), cinnamyl- 

 cinnamate (?), and 70% methyl eugenol (estimated by Zeisel's method), 

 identified from its bromide, m. p. 77 to 78°, and from oxidation into veratric 

 acid, m. p. 178 to 179°. 



Mr. Baker was kind enough to send us, together with a reprint of his 

 paper, a sample of oil of Melaleuca bracteata. It was of a yellowish colour 

 and possessed an agreeable odour, reminding somewhat of champaca oil. 

 di 5 o 1,0422; a D — 1°10'; n D20O 1,53428; acid v. 0,4; ester v. 20,8; ester v. 

 after acet. 31,0; sol. in 1,5 vols. a. m. 70% alcohol. 



The leaves of Melaleuca stypheloides, Sm. also afforded an essential oil, 

 but in such exceptionally small proportions that it was impossible te de- 

 termine its constants. 



Oil of Micromeria japonica, Miq. According to Y. Muragama 3 ) 

 the air-dried herb of this labiate contains 0,7% of a yellow oil, with a 

 characteristic odour of peppermint. Fractional distillation of the oil yielded 

 Z^nenthone, which was identified from its boiling point, combustion and the 

 preparation of the oxime. It is possible that the oil also contains menthol. 



*) Journ. and Proceed. Royal Soc. of H.S.Wales 44 (1911), 592. From a copy kindly 

 send to us. 



2 ) According to Baker and Smith, Melaleuca trichostachya and linariifolia are not syno- 

 nymus, as stated in the Index Kewensis, but represent distinct species. 



3 ) journ. pharm. Soc. of Japan 1911, 783. Quoted from Zeitschr. d. allg. osterr. Apoth. 

 Ver. 50 (1912), 48. 



