Floral Pigments of the Yellow Camellia, Camellia Chrysantha (Theaceae)

Abstract

Floral pigments of Camellia chrysantha consist of three flavonoids (quercimeritrin, rutin, and isoquercitrin) and two xanthophylls (neoxanthin and an unidentified xanthophyll). The transfer of yellow petal coloration from C. chrysantha to other Camellia species may be hampered by interspecific genetic incompatibilities and by the complexities of genetic regulation of biosynthesis of the pigments involved.