<jats:p>The absolute configuration of the title compound has been established from a single-crystal room temperature X-ray structure determination of its dibromo derivative, C24H28Br2O8. Crystals of the latter are orthorhombic, space group P21212, a l6.696(5), b l5.660(3), c 4.713(1) �, Z 2; 1452 independent 'observed' reflections yielded R 0.033 following full-matrix least-squares refinement. The molecule lies on a crystallographic 2 axis. The occurrence of lignans in Eremophila species is summarized.