Search for new industrial oils. XIV. Seed oils of labiatae.

Seed of 194 species in 56 genera of Labiatae, representing six of the eight subfamilies, were analyzed for oil and protein and for fatty acid composition of the oil. The oils are diverse and include some that contain up to 70% oleic acid, 79% linoleic acid, or 72% linolenic acid. An allenic function occurs in a third of the samples from the subfamily Stachyoideae and in the one sample analyzed from the Prasioideae. A method for determining the allene was devised. Oils fromTeucrium species containtrans unsaturation in unidentified components. Oils from twoLamium species have both allenic andtrans unsaturation. Two species ofThymus appear to produce hydroxy acids.