NOVELTIES. - 51 
Novelties. 
Copalillo Oil. From Mexico we received a sample of an oil called copalillo oil, 
as well as a sample of the wood from which it was said to have been distilled. 
Exothea Copalillo, Radlk. (N. O. Sapindaceae) will probably have to be considered as 
mother-plant, at any rate the anatomical structure of the wood points to this family. 
The constants of the oil were as follows: dis. 0,8504; #)-+0°50’; acid v. 10,2; ester v. 
13,1; soluble in 0,5 volume and more of 90 p.c. alcohol. It was of brownish yellow 
colour and its odour reminded of linaloe oil, but any considerable content of linalool 
is out of the question, seeing that the solubility of the oil was far too bad for such 
a supposition. Unfortunately, a closer examination was impossible owing to insufficient 
material. We are unable, therefore, to give further particulars about the composition 
of the oil. 
Oil from Doz-herb. Under the designation ‘Doz’ we received a herb from 
Bombay, the botanical examination of which showed it to be a variety of Artemisia 
maritima, L. (N. O. Compositae), but this could not be definitely established, as there was 
not a single blossom to go by. An experimental distillation yielded 0,24 p.c. of a dark 
green oil of a peculiar, though hardly pronounced odour. The following constants were 
determined: djs. 0,9696; acid v.1,8; ester v. 4,2; soluble in about 3 volumes of 70 p.c. 
alcohol, with separation of paraffin. On account of the dark colour of the oil its 
rotation could not be ascertained, neither could we examine the oil more closely, as 
but a few grams were at our disposal. 
Oils from Hernandia peltata. Under the designation of “faux camphrier” 
(spurious camphor tree) we had received, several years ago, a sample of wood, 
originating from Madagascar, on the oil of which we had published a short note in our 
Report October 1910 (p. 146). As principal constituent it contained a strongly dextro- 
rotatory aldehyde of cumin-like odour. F. W. Semmler and B. Zaar'), at whose 
disposal we had placed a sample of the oil, found that they had to deal with a dihydro- 
cuminaldehyde (Ci)H:4O), the laevo-rotatory modification of which they had established 
at the time in the oil from Perilla nankinensis, Desc., also supplied by us, and which 
was designated by them accordingly perillaldehyde?). Furthermore, myrtenal, cineol 
and d-limonene were found in the oil of ‘faux camphrier”’. 
Meantime we received samples of the same wood from other quarters. In one 
instance the article was called “Bois de Cass”, in the other instance “Hazamalanga 
wood”. In both cases Madagascar was given as origin. So far all our endeavors to 
ascertain the botanical origin of this interesting wood, which is used in Madagascar 
as building timber defying white ants, had always proved in vain. At long last we 
succeeded in obtaining further parts of the plant in question, thus enabling us to 
solve the botanical question successfully. Dr. Giessler, custodian of the Botanical 
Institute of the University of Leipzig, established as mother-plant Hernandia peltata, 
Meissn., N. O. Hernandiaceae. 
1) Berl. Berichte 44 (1911), 815; Report October 1911, 28. — *%) Berl. Berichte 44 (1911), 52; Report April 
1911, 93. Comp. also Report October 1910, 146, 
Axa 
