FLAVONOID CHEMISTRY OF CALYCERACEAE

Flavonoid profiles were determined for 11 species representing five ge nera of Calyceraceae: Acicarpha, Boopis, Calycera, Gamocarpha, and Nas tanthus. Kaempferol, quercetin, 6-methoxykaempferol, and 6-methoxyquer cetin (patuletin) were unequivocally identified. Kaempferol and querce tin occurred as 3-O-mono- and 3-O-diglycosides, whereas the latter two flavonols were observed only as aglycones. Several unidentified pheno lic compounds were also noted. The simplest profile in the family cons isted solely of the kaempferol and quercetin glycosides in Acicarpha, Gamocarpha, and one specimen of Calycera leucanthema. Morphological ev idence suggests that Acicarpha represents prototypical Calyceraceae an d that a close relationship exists between primitive Calyceraceae and some basal members of Asteraceae (subfamily Barnadesioideae). This las t possibility is reinforced by the similarity of flavonoid profiles of Acicarpha and members of Barnadesioideae.