Note: There are many varieties of turpentine. Chian
turpentine is produced in small quantities by the
turpentine tree ({Pistacia Terebinthus}). Venice,
Swiss, or larch turpentine, is obtained from {Larix
Europ[ae]a}. It is a clear, colorless balsam, having a
tendency to solidify. Canada turpentine, or Canada
balsam, is the purest of all the pine turpentines (see
under {Balsam}). The Carpathian and Hungarian varieties
are derived from {Pinus Cembra} and {Pinus Mugho}.
Carolina turpentine, the most abundant kind, comes from
the long-leaved pine ({Pinus palustris}). Strasburg
turpentine is from the silver fir ({Abies pectinata}).
{Oil of turpentine} (Chem.), a colorless oily hydrocarbon,
{C10H16}, of a pleasant aromatic odor, obtained by the
distillation of crude turpentine. It is used in making
varnishes, in medicine, etc. It is the type of the
terpenes and is related to cymene. Called also
{terebenthene}, {terpene}, etc.
{Turpentine moth} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of
small tortricid moths whose larv[ae] eat the tender shoots
of pine and fir trees, causing an exudation of pitch or
resin.
{Turpentine tree} (Bot.), the terebinth tree, the original
source of turpentine. See {Turpentine}, above.