Volatiles From Leaves And Rhizomes Of Fragrant Acorus Spp. (Acoraceae)

horticultural selections of Acorus gramineus SOLAND were investigated to determine the chemical composition of their leaves and rhizomes. 'Me variety 'liquorice' was found to contain methylchavicol (49%) which accounts for the unusual anisic odor of this variety, while fl-asarone was the main component of A. christophii (43%) and 'yodo-no-yuki' (20%). The results are compared with calarnus oils, and the possible biosynthetic precursors of the main components methylchavicol and asarone are considered.