Differentiation between the two subspecies of 'Atherosperma moschatum' Labill. (Atherospermataceae) from their leaf oils

Abstract

The leaf oils of both subspecies of 'Atherosperma moschatum' have been investigated to determine if there were any chemical differences between the two subspecies. While both subspecies of 'A. moschatum' contained methyl eugenol (55–87%), safrole (5–20%) and linalool (1–6%), camphor (5–10%) was found to be only in the oils of 'A. moschatum' subsp. 'moschatum' and to be either absent or, at most, less than 0.5% in the oils of 'A. moschatum' subsp. 'integrifolium'. There was also a range of monoterpene hydrocarbons and 1,8-cineole, all in the range of 0.1–5%, that were present in subspecies moschatum but virtually absent in subspecies 'integrifolium'.