AbstractVolatile fractions from the roots of Echinops kebericho Mesfin were obtained by hydrodistillation and solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS); 65 compounds, representing 73.9% of the volatile fraction in the hydrodistillate from the roots, and 63 compounds, representing 78.6% of the volatile compounds in the SPME extract of the roots of E. kebericho, were identified. The main constituent found in hydrodistilled essential oil was eudesm‐7(11)‐en‐4‐ol (14.3%), followed by caryophyllene oxide (9.7%) and τ‐cadinol (8.3%). High amounts of β‐cubebene (22.7%), followed by β‐patchoulene (11.1%), longifolene (10.4%), and cyperene (8.2%), were detected by SPME. Using both extraction methods, a total of 83 compounds were detected in E. kebericho essential oil. Monoterpenoid compounds represented 2.1% (seven compounds) and 2.1% (10 compounds) of the essential oil volatiles obtained by hydrodistillation and SPME, respectively, whereas sesquiterpenoids represented 72.5% (43 compounds) and 75.7% (31 compounds), respectively. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.