Abstract: One hundred individuals of rhizomes of Atractylodes lancea(Thunb.)DC were collected from Mt. Maoshan and 4 essential oil components (atractylodin, atractylon, hinesol and β-eudesmol) were determined by GC. The correlations among the 4 essential oil components and between the rhizome mass were analyzed. Results showed that, under wild conditions, variation among masses of rhizomes, was large, but their masses were small generally, with only 7% individuals of rhizomes having mass more than 30 g. All rhizomes of A. lancea from Mt. Maoshan contained atractylodin which had the least variation, whereas, β-eudesmol was absent in 3% individuals of rhizomes, atractylon was absent in 7% of individuals and hinesol was absent in 50% of individuals. Atractylodin was the typical essential oil component in the rhizomes of wild A. lancea with high content. The rhizomes collected from Mt. Maoshan and other areas could be distinguished by the absence or presence of hinesol. The mass of rhizomes was positively correlated with atractylon. The correlation between atractylodin and atractylon was the highest,and the correlation between hinesol and β-eudesmol was also high, which explained the coordinated changes between atractylodin and atractylon, as well as between hinesol and β-eudesmol.

Key words: Atractylodes lancea(Thunb) DC. from Mt. Maoshan, essential oil components, correlation