Eriocephalus africanus

Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Divisio: Magnoliophyta
Classis: Magnoliopsida
Ordo: Asterales
Familia: Asteraceae
Subfamilia: Asteroideae
Tribus: Anthemideae
Subtribus: Unassigned
Genus: Eriocephalus
Species: Eriocephalus africanus

Also known as the Cape Snow Bush, Eriocephalus africanus is a sweetly-scented, bushy shrub that is indigenous to South Africa.

Although called by the common name "African rosemary", this bush is not related to the common Mediterranean rosemary. In South Africa, E. africanus is a fragrant and medicinal plant having a wide distribution in the Western and Eastern Cape, and in Namaqualand. E. africanus has silver foliage, with brown and pale yellow inflorescences in corymbs. Essential oil derived from E. africanus is used as an ingredient in medicinal and perfume products.

Essential oil

Essential oil extracts of E. africanus are prepared by steam distillation, and contain the following primary aroma components:

linalyl acetate 18.0%
1,8-cineole 4.3%
para-cymene 3.5%
camphene 2.8%
linalool 2.5%
camphor 2.4%
sabinene 2.3%
α-copaene 1.8%
limonene 1.1%
geranyl acetate 0.9%
terpinen-4-ol 0.9%
α-pinene 0.8%
valencene 0.8%
β-pinene 0.7%
α-terpineol 0.6%
β-caryophyllene 0.5%
myrcene 0.2%