The Leaf Essential Oils and Taxonomy ofJuniperus oxycedrusL. subsp.oxycedrus,subsp.badia(H. Gay) Debeaux, and subsp.macrocarpa(Sibth. & Sm.) Ball

The leaf essential oils of Juniperus oxycedrus L. subsp. oxycedrus, subsp. badia (H. Gay) Debeaux and subsp. macrocarpa (Sm.) Ball have been analyzed by GC/MS. One hundred twenty two compounds were found in these three subspecies. The leaf oils of J. oxycedrus were dominated by α-pinene (25–43%), and limonene (4.5–28%), with moderate amounts of β-pinene, myrcene, p-cymene, β-phellandrene and manoyl oxide, whereas the leaf oils of J. oxycedrus subsp. badia were dominated by α-pinene and germacrene D with variable amounts of manoyl oxide and moderate amounts of α-campholenal, β-bourbenene and several unknown sesquiterpenes. The oils of subsp. badia contained nine unknown sesquiterpenes that were only found in this taxon. The oil of subsp. macrocarpa was dominated by sabinene and α-pinene with moderate amounts of p-cymene, γ-terpinene and terpinen-4-ol. Chemically, the three subspecies appear to be distinct and this warrants the continued recognition of these subspecies.