THE HYBRID ORIGANUM X INTERCEDENS FROM THE ISLAND OF NISYROS (SE GREECE) AND ITS PARENTAL TAXA - COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF ESSENTIAL OILS AND DISTRIBUTION

The hybrid Origanum x intercedens Rech. is reported for the first time to occur in the Aegean Archipelago, on the volcanic island of Nisyros (SE Greece), in particular. The qualitative and quantitative features of its essential oil are studied in comparison to those of the parent al taxa, 0. onites and 0. vulgare ssp. hirtum. Though 0. onites is a c ommon element of the flora of Nisyros, 0. vulgare ssp. hirtum has not been found on the island, which has been fairly well studied from a fl oristic point of view. On the basis of the essential oil composition, and compared with 23 0. vulgare ssp. hirtum samples studied from popul ations scattered all over Greece, it is concluded that the hybrid from Nisyros resembles most a population from the nearby island of Kos. Po ssible causes that could explain the seemingly peculiar occurrence of the hybrid at the absence of one of the parental taxa are discussed.