NEW REFLECTIONS ON THE TAXONOMY OF PLEUROZIACEAE SUPPORTED BY FLAVONOID CHEMISTRY

Abstract

  From ten species of Pleuroziaceae (genera Pleurozia and Eopleurozia) the flavonoid patterns have been determined. The results are compared with the morphological classification of the family. Eopleurozia is chemically distinguished from Pleurozia in the diversity of its flavonoid pattern. Within Eopleurozia two sections are recognized: E. sect. Eopleurozia (E. paradoxa) and E. sect. Ampliatae sect. nov. (E. simplicissima). Both for chemical and morphological reasons Eopleurozia giganteoides is returned to Pleurozia, which is considered to be phylogenetically more advanced than Eopleurozia, because of its more simplified flavonoid pattern. Based on the presence of “differential” flavonoids the species of Pleurozia fall into three groups, which partly correspond with the sections recognized by Jack (1886). The 3′-O-glucoside of lucenin-2, detected in P. acinosa, P. caledonica and P. articulata, is a new natural product. All other flavonoids detected in the Pleuroziaceae are rather widespread in liverworts.