(J.H.M., Proc. Linn. Soc, N.S.W., 1904, p. 472.) New England Peppermint.

Systematic. - A tall tree averaging 80 feet in height, reaching in some situations 150 to 180 feet (J.H.M ); bark "Peppermint" like. Abnormal leaves ovate, alternate, glaucous, about 5 inches long and 2 inches broad. Normal leaves lanceolate to broad-lanceolate, falcate, acuminate, usually under 6 inches long; intramarginal vein removed from the edge, lateral veins very oblique. Flowers in umbels or sometimes in panicles, peduncles axillary or lateral. Buds clavate, pedicellate; operculum somewhat shorter than the calyx tube, shortly pointed.

Fruit. - Hemispherical to turbinate, pedicellate; rim broad, slightly domed; valves scarcely exserted; 3 lines long and 3 lines in diameter.

The nearest in resemblance to these fruits amongst its congeners are those of E. dives.

Habitat.- -New England, New South Wales; Southern Queensland.

REMARKS. - This is one of the many Eucalypts going under the common name of " Peppermints" in New England, where it is also known as "Blackbutt" and "Messmate." The former, however, is the more appropriate.

ESSENTIAL OIL. - Leaves and terminal branchlets for distillation were obtained from Tenterfield in January, 1910. The material was collected as would be done for commercial distillation The yield of oil was 1.27 per cent. The crude oil was of a lemon-yellow tint, and had a secondary odour of peppermint. It had all the appearances and characters of a "Peppermint" Eucalyptus oil, and resembled very closely those distilled from the group of which E. dives may perhaps be considered the type. The principal constituents in the oil were 1ævo-rotatory phellandrene, piperitone, and the sesquiterpene, of which the first predominated greatly, in fact this species may be considered as yielding one of the most pronounced phellandrene-bearing Eucalyptus oils of the whole group not even excepting E. radiata. Pinene appears to be quite absent, and cineol was only detected with difficulty. The amount of ester was very small, and this might be expected for an oil of this nature.

The crude oil had specific gravity at 150 C. - 0.8646; rotation aD - 41.5°; refractive index at 200 = 1.4831, and was insoluble in 10 volumes 80 per cent. alcohol. The saponification number for the esters and free acid was 4.3.

After acetylation, the saponification number was 57.67, which calculated for free alcohol having a C10Hl8O molecule, gives 15.3 per cent. The ketone absorption was 5 per cent, The alcohol was probably piperitol largely.

3°4

On rectification only 1 per cent. of acid water and volatile aldehydes distilled below 174° C. (corr.) Between 174-1780, 56 per cent. distilled; between 178-1820, 26 per cent, distilled, and between 182-194°, 6 per cent. distilled. The temperature then rose to 245°, and between 245-255°. 8 per cent. distilled. These fractions gave the following results: -

The nitrosite was prepared with the phellandrene, and it was possible to separate this into two forms, one melting at 112-113°, the other at 105° C.

In view of the prominence recently acquired by the phellandrene Eucalyptus oils in the separation of metallic sulphides from ores by a flotation process, this species has commercial value as an oil-producing tree. The yield, however, is much lower than with some species - E. dives for instance. At the present time, no other species growing in the New England District of New South Wales is known from which a greater yield of a pronounced phellandrene oil can be obtained.

The results of this investigation were published by us in the Proc. Roy. Soc, N.S.W., Nov., 1911.