Study of the anatomy and of the essential oil of Origanum cordifolium, an endemic of Cyprus.

A study was made of the anatomy and of the essential oil of Origanum cordifolium (Aucher-Eloy et Montbret ex Benth.) Vogel, an endemic subshrub of Cyprus. The anatomical study revealed the typical features of the different parts of the plant. The leaves and the flowers of this aromatic species bear glandular and non-glandular hairs on both sides of the epidermis. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry showed that the main component of the essential oil of O. cordifolium is alpha-terpineol followed by gamma-terpinene, p-cymene and carvacrol.