Constituents of essential oils of sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.) collec
ted in different localities of Turkey in 1997 and 1998 have been identified
by GC/MS. The effects of collection time and locality on the oil content a
nd composition have been studied. The samples were classified into groups a
ccording to the main components: sabinene, gamma -terpiene, methyl thymol a
nd terpinen-4-ol; gamma -terpinene, dill apiol and sabinene; gamma -terpien
e, methyl thymol and limonene; p-cymene, methyl thymol and gamma -terpinene
. (Z)-beta -ocimene and spathulenol were found with high percentage values
in some samples. cis-p-Menth-4-en-1,2-diol was identified in only one oil.
Early collected plants yielded oil rich in p-cymene. Effect of freezing pla
nt did not have any important effect in oil composition.