(R.T.B., Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 1899, p. 596, t. XLIII.) A Mountain Ash.

Systematic. - A tall tree, with a smooth, whitish bark, or sometimes haying a slightly rough bark 6 to 8 feet from the ground. Abnormal leaves thin, elliptical-oval, shortly acuminate, on a petiole of about 1 inch or more, venation more distinct than on mature leaves. Normal leaves long, often measuring 9 inches, thick, shining, dark green on both sides, on rather long petioles, lanceolate, falcate; venation distinct, intramarginal vein removed from the edge, lateral veins very oblique, often approaching the venation of E. coriacea, A. Cunn. Peduncles axillary, not numerous, generally with about six to eight flowers. Calyx tube hemispherical, on a pedicel of about 2 to 3 lines; operculum hemispherical, acuminate, about the size of the calyx.

Fruit. - Pedicellate, hemispherical, rarely pyriform, occasionally ribbed; the rim broad or slightly countersunk; valves rarely or scarcely exserted; about 3 lines in diameter.

In the mature stage they have the truncate edge of E. resinifera, but the valves are very small compared with that species.

The fruits in the early stages are somewhat similar in shape to those of E. stricta, Sieb., E. obtusiflora, and E. fraxinoides, but, perhaps, slightly smaller.

Habitat. - Lawson, Mount Victoria, and road to Jenolan Caves, New South Wales. It was a tree of this species that Lawson, Blaxland, and Wentworth marked on their first attempt to cross the Blue Mountains, and which is now fenced in at Katoomba.

REMARKS. - This tree is allied to E. Sieberiana, F.v.M., in the venation, shape of the leaves, and timber, but it differs from it in its smooth bark, shape of fruits, paler timber, etc. When seen in its native habitat it might at first be passed as E. saligna, Sm., but differs from that species in the timber, fruit, and chemical constituent of its oil, and venation of the leaves. It is altogether distinct from E. virgata, Sieb., or E. Luehmanniana. This tree is mostly to be found at the head of gullies on the Blue Mountains, at the foot of precipitous sandstone cliffs, and near the foot of waterfalls, or on the edge of the pools. It also occurs on the ridges, as at Katoomba. It grows very tall, with scarcely a branch till near the top or head. The tree thought to be this species in Tasmania is E. Risdoni, Hook, f., the mature fruits of the two being somewhat alike.

ESSENTIAL OIL. - Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were obtained from Lawson, N.S.W., in May, 1899. The yield of oil was 1.2 per cent. The crude oil was almost colourless, and had a peppermint odour, due to the presence of a small amount of piperitone. It contained much phellandrene, but only a small amount of pinene. Cineol was present only in traces in the crude oil. Crystallised eudesmol was detected at the time of distillation. The third fraction consisted largely of the sesquiterpene.

The crude oil had specific gravity at 150 C. = 0.8869; rotation aD - 2270; refractive index at 200 = 1.4888, and was soluble in 1 volume 80 per cent, alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 8.2.

On rectification, 2 per cent, distilled below 1740 C. (corr.). Between 174-193°, 80 per cent, distilled; between 193-2450, 4 per cent, came over, and between 245-2800, 9 per cent, distilled. These fractions gave the following results: -

The above sample was stored in the dark, and in November, 1919, was again analysed. Very little alteration had taken place during the twenty years the oil had been kept, except that the optical rotation was reduced about 7 degrees. This alteration is apparently due to the phellandrene, as the loss in the rectified portion was about 5 degrees. 53 per cent. distilled below 1900 C. The crude oil and the rectified portion gave the following results: -

The cineol was determined by the resorcinol method in the rectified portion; when calculated for the crude oil the result was 2 per cent.