76 Report of Schimmel § Co. April 1913. 



Bark Oil from Ocotea (Cryptocaria, or Mespilodaphne) pretiosa. A sample 

 of the bark of Ocotea pretiosa, Benth. (Cryptocaria pretiosa, Mart.; Mespilodaphne pretiosa, 

 Nees et Mart, N. O. Lauracece), which has been sent to us, was distilled and yielded 

 0,83 p. c. of a brown oil of cinnamon-like odour. Its sp.gr. was 1,1200 (15°) and its 

 refractive index 1,52712 (20°); owing to the dark colour it was not possible to determine 

 the rotation. It was soluble in 6,5 vols. a. m. 80 p. c. alcohol. It is probable that its 

 constituents do not include esters, but lactone-like compounds, for when 1,5 gram of 

 the oil was saponified, 5 cc. seminormal potash solution was first used up, but after 

 neutralisation a fresh separation of alkali immediately took place and in the end the 

 saponification value was obtained. Acetylation could not be carried out, as with 

 acetic anhydride a violent reaction ensued, gas being given off and carbonification 

 taking place. The presence of lactones and perhaps also of phenols is furthermore 

 indicated by the fact that the oil is partly absorbed by soda liquor, about 65 p. c. of 

 the oil going into solution when shaken with 5 p. c. liquor. When dilute sulphuric 

 acid was added to the deep red-coloured solution an oil separated out which was at 

 first of a yellow colour, but which very quickly turned darker. So far we have obtained 

 no particulars with regard to the character of this oil, except that we found it to be 

 strongly nitrogenous. Judging by its odour, the portion of the oil which did not react 

 with sodium hydroxide contains caryophyllene- 



As in the case of an oil previously distilled by us 1 ) so in the present sample, no 

 cinnamic aldehyde could be detected, in spite of the fact that its presence was sus- 

 pected from the odour. 



The bark came from Brazil, where it is used as a remedy in gout. With regard 

 to the oil distilled from the branches and the wood of Cryptocaria pretiosa, comp. our 

 Report of April 1911, 83. 



Origanum Oils. How the naming of oils from the vernacular names of the parent- 

 plants from which they are derived can lead to confusion is shown by E.M.Holmes 2 ) 

 in the case of marjoram oil. In France Origanum vulgare and O.majorana are distinguished 

 by the names of marjolaine sauvage and marjolaine douce. In Southern France Cala- 

 mintha Nepeta is also frequently called marjolaine instead of Calaminthe nepete, a fact 

 which leads to oil of Calamintha Nepeta being frequently brought into commerce under 

 the name of marjoram oil 3 ). Holmes gives a detailed botanical description of Origanum 

 majorana, L. and Calamintha Nepeta (lesser calamint) together with clear illustrations of 

 the entire plant and the flower-parts. 



Origanum majorana (sweet marjoram) was grown as a pot-herb by the ancient 

 Egyptians. It is perhaps a native of the Southern Mediterranean region. The oil is 

 now chiefly manufactured in Spain. Willdenow describes a variety of this species as 

 Origanum major anoides*). The last-named species has been photographed by Holmes 5 ) 

 from material collected in Cyprus and now in the Kew Herbarium. This species, as 

 well as O. Onites, L, O. maru, L. and O. hirtum, Lk., is said to furnish the origanum oil 

 of commerce. In all probability other species are also distilled, but of these little is 

 as yet known for certain. 



We have recently distilled so-called Spanish-hop oil (origanum oil) from authentic raw 

 material, consisting of Majorana Onites, (L.) Benth. {Origanum Onites, L.; O. smyrnceum, L.) 

 and Origanum hirtum, Lk., « albiflorum, Hssk. 6 ). 



x ) Report April 1893, 71; Gildcmeister and Hoffmann, TheVolatile Oils, 1** ed., p. 402. — 2 ) Perfum. andEssent. 

 Oil Record 3 (1912), 322. — 3 ) Comp. Report April 1903, 50. — ±) Comp. Report April 1908, 77. — 5 ) Perfum. and 

 Essent. Oil Record 4 (1913), 7, 41. — 6 ) Report April 1911, 85; October 1911, 63. Mr. Holmes informed us some 

 time ago that Hasskarl's variety albiflorum does not really exist, inasmuch as 0. hirtum itself flowers white. 



