<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>The composition of the essential oil from roots of <jats:italic>Polygala senega</jats:italic> L. var. <jats:italic>latifolia</jats:italic> Torrey et Gray grown in Canada has been investigated by GC, IR, <jats:sup>1</jats:sup>H‐NMR and GC‐MS. The oil contained over 230 components: 53.4% of the oil was made up of carboxylic acids. The main components were hexanoic acid (33.6%), methyl salicylate (26.5%), <jats:italic>n</jats:italic>‐hexanal (5.3%) and <jats:italic>o</jats:italic>‐cresol (3.5%).