Leaf oils of the Australian species of Polyalthia (Annonaceae)

The leaf oils of the four Australian species of Polyalthia were examined. P . australis,gave an oil in which the major components were beta -caryophyll ene (4-15%), germacrene D (1-13%), bicyclogermacrene (1-10%), caryophyllene oxide (6-10%) and spathulenol (7-24%). P. michaelii gave an oil with spath ulenol(42.2%) as the principal compnent. P. nitidissima appeared to exist i n two chemotypes: one in which a-pinene (10-12%), limonene (4-6%) and (E)-b eta -ocimene (0.7-2%) were present, though the major components were delta -cadinene (4-8%) and spathulenol (15-17%). The second chemotype did not con tain monoterpenes and had spathulenol (22-28%), bicyclogermacrene (4-24%) a nd beta -caryophyllene (2-10%) as major components. Polyalthia sp. (Wyvuri B.P.Hyland RFK2632) contained globulol (1-34%), spathulenol (4-6%), ledol ( 1-10%) and germacrene B (22-39%) as principal components.