DISTRIBUTION AND INHERITANCE OF PLATYPHYLLOSIDE IN BETULA

Determinations of the presence and/or amount of the diarylheptanoid gl ucoside platyphyllo-side were made on the inner bark of about 70 taxa of Betula (birch). These tests included a simple precipitation reactio n with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and HPLC analyses. The presence or a bsence of platyphylioside levels detectable by the precipitation test appear to be species characteristics that are not dependent on provena nce of origin or the climate in the locality where the trees are plant ed. Platyphyllo-side tests were useful in confirming or questioning sp ecies identifications and in verifying interspecific hybrids arising f rom natural crossing or controlled pollination. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd