Infraspecific chemical variability of the leaf essential oil of Juniperus phoenicea var. turbinata from Portugal

The essential oil composition of 68 individual plants of Juniperus phoenice a from Portugal was investigated by GC GC-MS and C-13 NMR. alpha -Pinene. b eta -phellandrene, alpha -terpinyl acetate and myrcene were found to be the main constituents. Botanical and chemical data as well as phytogeographica l distribution indicate J. phoenicea var. turbinata as the unique subspecie s occurring in Portugal. Nevertheless, this taxon exhibits chemical polymor phism. The results of the oil compositions were processed by hierarchical c lustering and principal component analysis allowing to establish three grou ps of essential oils differentiated by the content of alpha -pinene, beta - phellandrene and alpha -terpinyl acetate. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al l rights reserved.