Oil of Anise Bark.

Oil of Anise Bark.—There has appeared in the European markets a bark, closely resembling Massoi bark, and is supposed to be derived from a species of Illicium, probably I. parviflorum Michaux, growing in Madagascar, which yields fully three and a half per cent. of a light, yellow oil, the odor of which slightly resembles safrol. It has a spicy taste, but is only slightly sweet. Its specific gravity is 0.969 at 15° C. (59° F.). Optical rotation -0° 46' in a 100-mm. tube. Refractive index at 16° 1.52510. It contains a small quantity of ordinary anethol, but consists principally of the isomeric fluid anethol, the methyl-chavicol of Eykman, CH₃O.C₆H₄.CH₂.CH:CH₂.

The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918, was edited by Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood and others.