FLAVONOID PROFILES IN LEAVES, FLOWERS AND STEMS OF 49 MEMBERS OF THE PHASEOLINAE

The flavonoid profiles in leaves, stems and flowers of 49 representati ve taxa of the genera Phaseolus, Vigna, Macroptilium, Strophostyles an d Dysolobium were compared and some 35 flavonoids variously identified . While leaves and stems were similar in their flavonoids, the flowers were different. A numerical analysis of the leaf data indicated three main groupings: four Phaseolus species with flavonol O-glucuronides; three Phaseolus species with flavone O-glycosides; and the remaining t axa with flavonol glycosides such as robinin and rutin. One species, D ysolobium apioides was distinctive in accumulating the flavone C-glyco sides, vitexin and isovitexin. The results lend some support for the s eparation of Macroptilium, Strophostyles and Dysolobium from Phaseolus , but they also indicate considerable heterogeneity in flavonoid patte rns within the Phaseolinae.