Biflavonoids, Quinones and Xanthones as Rare Chemical Markers in the Family Iridaceae

Abstract

Amentoflavone has been characterised from leaves of Patersonia glabrata. This is the first report of a biflavone in the Monocotyledoneae. The quinone plumbagin, a characteristic constituent of three dicotyledonous families, is now found to be a useful marker for the genus Aristea; it also occurs in two Sisyrinchium species and in Sparaxis tricolor. Mangiferin, a C-glucosylxanthone known previously in the Iridaceae only from Crocus, Iris and Gynandriris has now been found in Eleutherine, Rigidella, Gelasine and Tigridia. results is discussed. © 1985, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.