Evaluation of Some Morphological, Phytochemical and Ecological Characteristics of Different Populations of Satureja rechingeri Jamzad

Satureja rechingeri, an endemic species from Iran, is distributed in narrow habitats in Ilam and Khuzestan provinces. This study was conducted in 2013 and some morphological characteristics, oil content, rosmarinic acid content and ecological features of different populations of S. rechingeri were studied. Identified habitats of S. rechingeri are located in sub-tropical areas of Ilam and khuzistan provinces, within 32-33◦ longitude and 46-49◦ latitude and the plant mainly grows on calcareous rocks in the northern and southern slopes. The highest coefficient of variation among the traits of S. rechingeri was obtained for leaf surface area (43.01%) and the lowest (9.25%) was obtained for the diameter of the calyx. The coefficient of variation for essential oil yield was 33.71%. The lowest (2.1%) and the highest (3.51%) average essential oil yields were observed in Kaver and Lives populations, respectively. Minimum (0.93%) and maximum (6.2%) essential oil yields were observed among the individuals of the Lives and Kaver populations, respectively. Highest (54.49%) coefficient of variation for rosmarinic acid content was observed in Bone Adab population. Amount of rosmarinic acid of methanolic extract of under study populations showed high variability and varied from 0.54 to 7.29% among individuals, while the average rosmarinic acid in populations varied from 1.62 percent (Kaver population) to 4.14 percent (Zarrin Abad population). Diversity of S. richingeri within populations was higher than among them showing limited segregating of populations.