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CHEMICAL VARIATION IN NOTHOLAENA STANDLEYI
Author(s) -
Seigler David S.,
Wollenweber E.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1983.tb12458.x
Subject(s) - pteridaceae , biology , frond , botany , edaphic , taxon , exudate , kaempferol , race (biology) , quercetin , ecology , fern , biochemistry , soil water , antioxidant
In Notholaena standleyi (Pteridaceae), differences in geographic range, aspect, height, edaphic requirements, and the color and chemistry of the ceraceous exudate on the abaxial side of the frond suggest at least three distinct subgroups of this taxon. One race, with a light yellow exudate consisting mostly of kaempferol, 3‐O‐methylkaempferol and 4'‐O‐methylkaempferol occurs in the eastern portion of the range. A yellow‐green race and a gold race possess mostly 7‐O‐methylkaempferol and 4'‐O‐methylkaempferol but also the uncommon compounds 7‐O‐methylherbacetin and 7,4'‐di‐O‐methylherbacetin. Plants of the yellow‐green race produce minor constituents with methyl substituents in the 3‐position whereas those of the gold race lack them. Plants of this last group produce only traces of kaempferol. Principal Components Analysis based on nine flavonoid constituents and 59 samples was carried out. Plants of the three groups clustered in plots of Principal Components 1 vs. 2, 1 vs. 3, and 2 vs. 3 and were separated from each other. These plants reproduce ameiotically and thus there is little or no gene flow among them and they are geographically distinct. We prefer to maintain them as informally recognized taxa pending further studies.