Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July,  1889. 
Notes  on  Essential  Oils. 
375 
out  practical  value.  The  low  boiling  point  of  this  oil  is  remarkable  :  about 
one-half  of  its  volume  passes  over  between  110°  and  160°  C.  and  the  re- 
mainder between  160°  and  210°. 
Kuro-moji  Oil. — Essential  oil  from  the  leaves  of  Lindera  sericea,  Bl.,  a  lau- 
raceous  shrub  widely  distributed  in  Japan.  The  oil  has  a  very  fine  aromatic 
balsamic  odor,  and  might,  it  is  thought,  find  use  in  perfumery,  especially  as 
it  is  not  expensive.  Sp.  gr.  0*901  at  18°.  A  sample  separated  by  distillation 
into  three  fractions  gave  (1)  between  180°  and  200°,  a  fraction  having  the 
agreeable  odor  of  myrtle  and  coriander ;  (2)  boiling  between  200°  and  220°, 
a  fraction  with  an  agreeable  balsamic  odor,  recalling  somewhat  lign-aloe  oil, 
but  finer  and  more  fragrant ;  (3)  boiling  between  220°  and  240°,  a  fraction 
resembling  the  carvol  contained  in  curled  mint. 
Coumarin. — The  following  list  of  plants  in  which  the  presence  of  coumarin 
has  been  detected,  is  quoted  from  a  communication  by  H.  Lojander  upon 
the  distribution  of  coumarin  in  the  vegetable  kingdom  : — 
Orders.                       Genera  and  species.             Part  of  plant. 
Filices  A  diantum  pedatum   P  lan  t. 
A.  peruvianum  Plant. 
A.  trapeziforme  Plant. 
Palmse  Phoenix  dactylifera  The  date. 
Graminese  Anthoxanthum  odoratum  Flowers. 
Cinna  arundinacea  Plant. 
Hierochloa  alpina  Plant. 
H.  australis  Plant. 
H.  borealis  Rhizome. 
Milium  effusum  Plant. 
Orchidacese  Aceras  anthropophora  Plant. 
AngrtECum  fragrans  ..  ......Leaves. 
Nigritella  angustifolia  PI  ant . 
Orchis  fusca  Plant. 
Caryophyllaceee.  Herniaria  glabra  Plant. 
RutaceaB  Ruta  graveolens  Plant. 
Papilionaeeee  Dipterix  odorata  Ripe  seed. 
D.  oppositifolia  ...Ripe  seed. 
D.  Pteropus  Ripe  seed. 
Melilotus  albus  Flowers  and  plant. 
M.  altissimus  Flowers  and  plant. 
M.  hamatus  Flowers  and  plant. 
M.  leucanthus  Flowers  and  plant. 
M.  officinalis  Flowers  and  plant. 
Cassiaeea?  Toluifera  balsamum  Fruit. 
Apocynacese  Alyxia  steliata  Bark. 
Rubiacea?  Asperula  odorata  Plant. 
Galium  triflorum  Plant. 
Composite  Liatris  odoratissima  Plant. 
L.  spicata  Plant. 
In  addition,  Molisch  and  Zeisel  have  reported  the  occurrence  of  coumarin 
in  Ageratum  mexicanum,  Sims.  This  plant,  when  dry,  smells  of  coumarin,  of 
which  it  yielded  0  06  per  cent. ;  but  when  in  fresh  condition,  has  quite  an- 
other odor,  probably  derived  from  an  essential  oil. 
Thymol. — Reference  is  made  to  the  occurrence  in  commerce  of  thymol 
containing  thymene,  which  can  be  recognized  by  its  odor,  or  by  the  oil  stain 
