Chemophenetic Analysis of Ten Wild‐Growing East Adriatic <i>Helichrysum italicum</i> (Roth) G. Don (Gnaphalieae, Asteraceae) Populations

<jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:p> The essential oil (EO) and phenolic composition of <jats:italic>Helichrysum italicum</jats:italic> (Roth) G. Don from natural populations in east Adriatic were analyzed using gas and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. In EOs of the studied populations, 146 compounds were identified, representing, on average, 97.3% of the total oil composition. The essential oils were dominated by sesquiterpenes. γ‐Curcumene was among the most abundant compounds in all samples. Twelve compounds were present in concentrations greater than 5% in at least one of the ten populations. In the extracts, 73 phenolic compounds were identified, belonging to four classes. Compound classes included phenolic acids, flavonoid glycosides, flavonoid aglycones, pyranones, and related compounds. Arzanol was the most prominent peak across all samples, and pyranones and related compounds were the most abundant. No correlations between EO and flavonoid aglycone composition and the studied environmental parameters were found, whereas phenolic acids and glycosides showed correlations with temperature and precipitation. </jats:p>