Gilles Figuérédo, Jean-Claude Chalchat*, Bernard Pasquier

Abstract: Essential oils isolated by water distillation were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. In Origanum x majoricum, 74 constituents were identifi ed. The trans-sabinene hydrate and carvacrol were the most prominent compounds, followed by sabinene, γ-terpinene and terpinen-4-ol. In O. x intercedens and O. x minoanum, 67 and 85 compounds were identifi ed, respectively, with carvacrol predominating (75-80%) in both hybrids.

Origanum x majoricum Cambessedes, which is not listed by Ietswaart (1) to be found in France, was harvested in southeastern France. It is a ‘false marjoram,’ a sterile hybrid, reputedly a cross between the common oregano O. vulgare ssp. virens, and a marjoram, O. majorana. It is cold-resistant, with a survival rate of 80% after harsh winters. It grows rapidly and blooms abundantly. At the beginning of the season, the scent of the leaves resembles that of thyme, later becoming increasingly marjoram-like, especially at the time of fl owering. Origanum x intercedens Rechinger and Origanum x minoanum Davis, classifi ed by Ietswaart (1) are two rare fertile hybrids, found in Turkey and Crete (Greece) on stony, chalky soils, along with their parent species. O. x intercedens Rechinger is a cross between O. onites and O. vulgare ssp. hirtum. Bosabalidis and Skoula (2) have described the oils from leaves of different parts of the plant, and obtained an oil rich in carvacrol (~80%). Bosabalidis et al. have also published results from the same hybrid concerning fl avonoids (3); in particular, thymusine, thymonine, cirsimaritine and genkwanine were isolated.