S. Kokkini et D. Vokou, THE HYBRID ORIGANUM X INTERCEDENS FROM THE ISLAND OF NISYROS (SE GREECE) AND ITS PARENTAL TAXA - COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF ESSENTIAL OILS AND DISTRIBUTION, Biochemical systematics and ecology, 21(3), 1993, pp. 397-403
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.