Aerial parts of endemic pichana were harvested in December 1996 at different localities of northern Patagonia. Origin: Planicie Banderita, Dept. Confluencia, Province of NeuquCn. Habitat: altitude, 327 m; average temperature in the station, 21.8 ℃; annual precipitation, 125 mm; sandy soils. Aerial parts (5 kg, 2 kg of dried material;humidity, 11%) from four well developed plants at the fullflowering stage (December, 1996). Sample 2 : Origin: RincBn de 10s; Sauces, Dept. of Pehuenclies, Province of Neuqukn. Habitat: altitude, 750 m; average temperature in the station, 20.9 ℃; annual precipitation, 147 mm; sandy and gritty salty soils. Aerial parts (5 kg, 1.85 kg of dried material, humidity, 10%), from two well developed plants at the full flowering stage, and after several days copious rains (December, 1996). Sample 3: Origin: Coronel GBmez, Dept. General Roca, Province of Rio Negro. Habitat: altitude, 242 m; average temperature in the station, 22.5 ℃; annual precipitation, 179 mm; sandy and stony soils. Aerial parts (4.5 kg, 1.3 kg of dried material, humidity, 9%), from 12 young plants at the beginning flowering stage (December, 1996).

Fifty-four components, representing approximately 84.6-97.4% of the oil samples, were identified. The samples consisted mainly of hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes. The major constituents were limonene (28.7-56.7%), 6R-7R-bisabolone (3.2-9.1%), sabinene (0.1-11.0%) and citronellal (2.4-5.2%). Significant differences among the content of the three samples could be the result of changes in the climatic conditions (sample 2: Rincon de los Sauces, Province of Neuquen, after strong rains) or by translocations in different parts of the plant (sample 3: Coronel Gomez, Province of Rio Negro, more leaves and less stems).

Talauma ovata was collected from October 2003 to February 2005. Leaves and trunk bark from the same set of plants were collected in the four seasons: spring (October 15th, 2003), autumn (April 10th, 2004), winter (July 17th, 2004) and summer (February 15th, 2005). In addition, trunk bark was also collected on January 22nd, 2004 (summer). The plant material was harvested from wild-growing population in Santos Dumont City, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, (21° 28′ 03″ S, 43° 39′ 26″ W), at 1000 m of altitude.

In each season the composition of trunk bark oils was similar to leaf oils, with mainly quantitative differences. However considerable seasonal variation was observed. Significant levels of monoterpenes were found only in autumn. The content of oxygenated sesquiterpenes was highest in samples of spring (October) and decreased in summer (January and February), reaching the lowest level in autumn (April) and increasing again in winter (July). In trunk bark oils the main constituents were: spathulenol, alpha-eudesmol, linalool, trans-beta-guaiene and caryophyllene oxide. The major component in all samples of trunk bark was spathulenol. Its level was highest in October (46.8%), decreased in January (33.3%), remained stable in April and July (18.0%) and increased again in February of next year (27.7%). Levels of alpha-eudesmol were high in spring (13.0%) and autumn (11.5%). Linalool peaked only in April, while trans-beta-guaiane peaked in July (11.1%). Caryophyllene oxide ranged between 10.7-2.0%. The level was highest in January, decreased regularly until July and increased slightly again in October. In leaf oils the main components were: spathulenol, germacrene B, germacrene D, caryophyllene oxide and viridiflorol. Spathulenol was the major component in sample of spring (34.4%), but decreased gradually until winter, when reached the lowest level (9.4%). Caryophyllene oxide showed a similar pattern, varying from 14.1% (spring) to 2.4% (winter). An inverse effect was observed for viridiflorol, which increased from 0.1% in October to 13.7% in July. Important levels of alpha-eudesmol were observed in October (12.3%) and February (9.5%). The percentage of germacrene D was highest in summer, while germacrene B showed high amounts in autumn and winter. The seasonal changes in oil composition of T. ovata can be associated with cycle of life of plant (flowering, fruiting and vegetative stages) and climatic parameters such as intense raining in the spring and summer.