Which plant part is not listed as a source for essential oils by distillation in this material?

• A. Petals
• B. Seeds
• C. Bark
• D. Leaves

Answer: (A)

Distillation aims to capture volatile compounds from plant tissues that reliably yield essential oils under heat and steam. The material emphasizes parts that consistently provide substantial oils through this method, such as leaves, bark, and seeds, because their tissues contain oils in usable amounts and tolerate the distillation process. Petals, while they do carry fragrant compounds, are often more delicate and yield less oil, with floral aromas frequently extracted by alternative methods or used as absolutes rather than standard essential oils obtained by steam distillation. That’s why petals aren’t listed as a distillation source in this material.