Distribution of flavonoids in the lower plants and its evolutionary significance

Abstract

The present chapter is the first compilation in which the flavonoid chemistry of all lower plants has been brought together in a comprehensive manner. In a chapter of this size it is not possible to be exhaustive in a historical sense, and reference to early work is only made when such work is considered to be of continuing significance. Nevertheless this summary attempts to establish a reasonably complete database representing work published prior to early 1986 and upon which future updates can be based. The emphasis throughout is on published work in which flavonoid structures have been defined. Thus some extensive surveys in which (for example) only presence or absence data appear are not fully represented. Discussion is focused primarily on the distribution of flavonoids and the possible phylogenetic significance (if evident) of this distribution. Limited space precludes all but passing comment on the myriad of taxonomic implications addressed in the literature.