The genetic architecture of repeated local adaptation to climate in distantly related plants.

Closely related species often use the same genes to adapt to similar environments. However, we know little about why such genes possess increased adaptive potential and whether this is conserved across deeper evolutionary lineages. Adaptation to climate presents a natural laboratory to test these ideas, as even distantly related species must contend with similar stresses.

The Iridoid Myodesert-1-ene and Elemol/Eudesmol are found in Distinct Chemotypes of the Australian Aboriginal Medicinal Plant Eremophila dalyana (Scrophulariaceae).

The strongly aromatic Australian desert species Eremophila dalyana is an Aboriginal medicinal plant that continues to be used today in Central Australia in the treatment of respiratory complaints and Sarcoptes scabiei infestation. Using hydrodistillation of aerial parts of the plant, the new natural product myodesert-l- ene was isolated in two disjunct populations at up to 98% of the volatiles present in the hydrodistilled oils. Weak antimicrobial activities were observed for whole oils and myodesert-l-ene.