Because the essential oil from E. olida was found to be heavier than water in preliminary experiments, a Clevenger-type apparatus was used for its extraction. Samples (100 g) of frozen leaves were cut into 5 mm strips and steam-distilled for 3 h with 600 ml of de-ionised water. The essential oil appeared as a white opaque suspension at the bottom of the condensation and was collected into a scintillation vial and freeze dried (Christ Alpha 2-4 LDplus, Martin Christ, Osterode am Harz, Germany) under 0.011 mbar at 85 C for 15 h before being stored at 18 C.