Comparative Studies on Habitat and Essential Oils of Callicarpa longissima (Hemsl.) Merr. (Verbenaceae) from Tanegashima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture and Nichinan, Miyazaki Prefecture, Southern Japan

Abstract

Habitat and essential oils of Callicarpa longissima (Hemsl.) Merr. (Verbenaceae) in the Tanegashima (Kagoshima Pref.) and the Nichinan (Miyazaki Pref.) populations, southern Japan, were comparatively studied. Leaves from the Tanegashima population were covered with glandular hairs more densely than those of the Nichinan population and included several characteristic odorants, i.e., 2-pentanone, 1, 8-cineole, cis-3-hexenal, linalool and methyl salicylate. Materials from the Tanegashima population are consequently evaluated to be effective to aromatherapy. The Nichinan population was considered to be important for the conservation of the species because many seedlings were found in this population. It was also clarified that the species preferred the habitats with relatively high temperature, high humidity and much sunlight.