Gardenia Resin, from new Cadedonia.

The species of gardenia yielding this resin remains as yet phytographically unknown. It is probably allied to a species discovered by myself in North Australia, Gardenia resinosa, so called on account of its large amount of resinous exudation. The resin from New Caledonia had evidently been fused; it is brittle. On fracture, it presents a yellowish colour; it is tasteless, but possesses an odour reminding of ginger. When leniently heated it assumes a waxy consistence. It dissolves almost without residue in cold alcohol; contains, therefore, only a trifle of page 37 gummy substance. The alcoholic solution is limpid and yellow, rendered milky by addition of water. When dissolved in boiled alcohol, it forms after cooling a large deposit. Evaporation of the spirit leaves a pellucid, greenish-yellow resin. This pure resin dissolves in ether, oil of turpentine, and partly in strong alkaline solutions.