On the Taxonomic Significance of Secondary Metabolites in Angiosperms

Abstract

Chemical analysis of representatives of about thirty genera shown that the terpenoid and flavonoid content of the Lejeuneaceae is basically comparable to that of other Hepaticae and quitediversified. Among the terpenoidsdetected,some are common throughout the family (elemenenes, germacrenes), others are distributed more restrictedly and are indicative of borneols (Nipponolejeunea), pinguisanines (Acrolejeunea evolutionary relationships among genera, e.g. complex), striatenes (Ptychanthoideae, Omphalanthus complex), calamenanes (Lopholejeunea) and labdanes ( Ptychanthus, Tuzibeanthus). Flavonoids are present in smaller amounts than terpenoids and comprise some compounds unique to bryophytes (lutonarin, kaempferol-3-methylether). The genus Omphalanthus stands out by its total inability to biosynthesize flavonoids. At the species level the species evidence for the existence of chemical chemical constitution may vary considerably and in some races was detected. Introduction