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Review
. 2023 Mar 25;28(7):2943.
doi: 10.3390/molecules28072943.

Lavandula × intermedia-A Bastard Lavender or a Plant of Many Values? Part I. Biology and Chemical Composition of Lavandin

Katarzyna Pokajewicz  1 , Marta Czarniecka-Wiera  2 , Agnieszka Krajewska  3 , Ewa Maciejczyk  3 , Piotr P Wieczorek  1
Affiliations
Review

Lavandula × intermedia-A Bastard Lavender or a Plant of Many Values? Part I. Biology and Chemical Composition of Lavandin

Katarzyna Pokajewicz et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

This review article is the first in a series that provides an overview of the biology, chemistry, biological effects, and applications of Lavandula × intermedia (lavandin, LI). Despite its prevalence in cultivation and on the essential oil market, lavandin has received limited attention from the scientific community. Remarkably more attention is paid to Lavandula angustifolia (LA), which is commonly regarded as the superior lavender and has been extensively researched. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive review of LI, as none currently exists, and assess whether its inferior status is merited. In the first part, we outline the biological and chemical characteristics of the plant and compare it to the parent species. The chemical composition of lavandin oil is similar to that of LA but contains more terpenes, giving camphor notes that are less valued in perfumery. Nevertheless, lavandin has some advantages, including a higher essential oil yield, resulting in reduced production cost, and therefore, it is a preferred lavender crop for cultivation.

Keywords: Lavandula angustifolia; Lavandula hybrida; Lavandula × intermedia; chemical composition; cultivars; essential oil; oil yield.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The distribution of (a) Lavandula angustifolia, (b) Lavandula latifolia, (c) Lavandula × intermedia according to Plants of the World Online, published by the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew). The green color represents the native range of distribution and the red color represents the secondary range of distribution. Map source: Made with Natural Earth, https://www.naturalearthdata.com/downloads/50m-natural-earth-1/50m-natural-earth-i-with-shaded-relief-and-water/ (accessed on 2 January 2023).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The general appearance of: (a) Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’; (b) Lavandula × intermedia ‘Grappenhall’. Photos by M.C.-W.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Leaf blade structure in Lavandula intermedia ‘Grappenhall’: secretory trichome (on the left), and covering trichome (on the right). Photos by M.C.-W. and Dr. Miłosz Mazur.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The characteristic monoterpenoids in lavandin essential oil.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.

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