African drying oils. V. Some nigerian and sudanese drying oils

The fatty oils from the seeds of Hyptis spicigera and Ocimum viride from Nigeria, and of O. kilimandscharicum, Euphorbia calycina, E. erythracac, and Charozophora plicata from the Sudan, have been examined with reference to their component fatty acids and their suitability as drying oils. The oils of H. spicigera, O. kilimandscharicum and Euphorbia calycina closely resemble conophor oil in their fatty acids and their high content of linolenic acid; that of E. erythracae is very similar to linseed oil in composition, and C. plicata seed oil resembles cottonseed oil in its proportions of linolcic, oleic and saturated acids, Features in the distribution, cultivation, or harvesting of the seeds under discussion would appear to present certain difficulties in their commercial exploitation as compared with Tetracarpidium (conophor), but it is clear seeds which yield oils equal or superior to linseed oil in drying properties, as indicated by their respective contents of linolenic glycerides.