Acaroid resin

As Akaroidharz , Xanthorrhöaharz , earth shellac ; ( English Grass-tree gum ) or Yacca (Yakka) , a resin originating from Australia is called , from different types of grass trees , a distinction is made: red and yellow acaroid resin.

The name Akaroid comes from the name Acoroides for ( calamus (Acorus) same), a temporary name in Solander's manuscript from his trip with Cook and was not originally intended for publication.

Acaroid resin

The red acaroid resin ( nut resin , Blackboy-gum ) Resina acroidis comes from the Xanthorrhoea australis (Australian grass tree) or Xanthorrhoea arborea , from whose trunks it exudes and covers the same in layers 2 to 4 cm thick. It has a red to brownish-red color, an orange-colored line, lively gloss. This resin shows numerous remains of cell tissue on the break, the smell is slightly benzoin-like , the taste unpleasant, reminiscent of cinnamon . The lower side of the pieces is gray-white.

The yellow acaroid resin ( Botany-Bay-Harz, Gummi , Botany-Bay Gum ), Resina lutea novi Belgii , comes from the Xanthorrhoea resinosa (Syn .: Xanthorrhoea hastilis ), it is obtained in tear-shaped pieces of up to 3 cm in diameter deep brown-red color which are yellow at the break and also make a yellow powder. The resin is quite hard, it is difficult to scratch with a fingernail , has a pleasant benzoin-like smell and an aromatic, somewhat sweet taste. The yellow resin is more expensive and rarer.

Both resins contain resin acids of different colors , cinnamic acid , benzoic acid and an essential oil .

Resin is also obtained from other grass trees, Xanthorrhoea preissii , Xanthorrhoea drummondii , Xanthorrhoea quadrangulata , Xanthorrhoea semiplana subsp. tateana (Syn .: Xanthorrhoea tateana ).

use

The resin from Xanthorrhoea plants was used to make spears and is an invaluable glue for the Aborigines , also for mending the often leaky coolamons (water containers) and even yidaki ( didgeridoo ).

They are used for the production of colored alcohol coatings and resin soaps for gluing of paper , formerly one manufactured also picric acid from it.

It is also used in pyrotechnics as a fuel and binder for fountains and fireworks stars.

Technically, red acaroid resin is also referred to as “Red Gum” or “Gum acroides” (CAS No. 9000-20-8), but cinema of Eucalyptus , Angophora and Corymbia species from Australia is also referred to as Red Gum . It is therefore not to be confused.

Web links

Red acroid resin from materialarchiv.ch, accessed on October 31, 2016.

literature

Carl Hartwich: The new medicinal drugs from the plant kingdom. Springer, 1897, ISBN 978-3-662-00267-4 (Reprint, 1997), p. 360.
Paul Heinz List, Ludwig Hörhammer: Hager's handbook of pharmaceutical practice . 6th volume, part C: T – Z , Springer, 1979, ISBN 978-3-642-67085-5 , p. 525 ff.

Individual evidence

↑ Pam Peters: The Cambridge Australian English Style Guide. Cambridge University Press, 1996, ISBN 978-0-521-57634-5 , p. 823.
^ D. Gledhill: The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3 , p. 35.
^ E. Charles Nelson, DJ Bedford: The names of the Australian grass-tree: Xanthorrhoea Sin. and Acoroides C. Kite (Xanthorrhoeaceae). In: Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society . Volume 112, Issue 2, 1993, pp. 95-105, doi: 10.1006 / bojl.1993.1044 .
^ KL Kosanke, BJ Kosanke, BT Sturman, RM Winokur: Encyclopedic Dictionary of Pyrotechnics. Part 3: P – Z , PyroLabs, 2012, ISBN 978-1-889526-21-8 , p. 931 f.

[1] Pam Peters: The Cambridge Australian English Style Guide. Cambridge University Press, 1996, ISBN 978-0-521-57634-5 , p. 823.

[2] D. Gledhill: The Names of Plants. Cambridge University Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3 , p. 35.

[3] E. Charles Nelson, DJ Bedford: The names of the Australian grass-tree: Xanthorrhoea Sin. and Acoroides C. Kite (Xanthorrhoeaceae). In: Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society . Volume 112, Issue 2, 1993, pp. 95-105, doi: 10.1006 / bojl.1993.1044 .

[4] KL Kosanke, BJ Kosanke, BT Sturman, RM Winokur: Encyclopedic Dictionary of Pyrotechnics. Part 3: P – Z , PyroLabs, 2012, ISBN 978-1-889526-21-8 , p. 931 f.