Cycloartenyl palmitate has been isolated from banana peel (Mus sapientum) and from the seeds ofStrychnos nux-vomica. This ester forms a cholesteric mesophase. The ester was carefully purified from each of these sources and identified by comparison of chemical, physical and mass spectral properties with an authentic sample of cycloartenyl palmitate. The isolation of this cholesteric ester is of interest since such substances have not been reported in plants and have been found only rarely in animal tissue