CHEMOTAXONOMICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PLAGIOCHILA DUSENII (HEPATICAE), MOST CLOSELY RELATED TO PLAGIOCHILA VALIDISSIMA

Abstract

  Plagiochila dusenii Steph. (sect. Duseniae Carl) from southern South America is characterized morphologically and chemically. Sporophytic features are described for the first time and show similarities to sect. Arrectae Carl from the Neotropics and atlantic Europe. Chemical data indicate that P. dusenii is taxonomically closely related to the Bolivian endemic Plagiochila validissima Steph., to date only known in sterile condition. Isolation of the new verrucosane type diterpenes 13-epi-neoverrucosan-5β,6α-diol from P. validissima and 13-epi-neoverrucosan-5β,12β-diol, 13-epi-neoverrucosan-α-acetoxy-5β,12β-diol, 13-epi-neoverrucosan-8α-acetoxy-5β,12β-diol, 13-epi-homoverrucosan-5β,20-diol and the novel bibenzyl glycoside dusenic acid from P. dusenii and further known compounds permits the chemical characterization of both species by the accumulation of the sesquiterpene peculiaroxide, fusiccocane and verrucosane type diterpenes and very few hydrophilic phenolic compounds. Moreover they are chemically distinguished from the majority of Plagiochila species by the lack of secoaromadendrane type sesquiterpenes, lipophilic phenolic compounds and flavonoids.