SESQUITERPENES AND GERANYLGERANYLGLYCEROL FROM THE BROWN-ALGAE TAONIA-LACHEANA AND TAONIA-ATOMARIA F CILIATA - THEIR CHEMOTAXONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

Taonia lacheana is a very recent addition to the small Taonia genus. T he chemical composition of the new species is characterized by the pre sence of aromadendrane sesquiterpenes [(+)-spathulenol, (+)-11-epispat hulenol and(-)-7,1l-dihydroxyaromadendrane] and(-)-(R)-1-geranylgerany lglycerol. A related species from which the last compound had been pre viously isolated, misidentified as Dilophus fasciola and now recognize d to be T. atomaria f. ciliata, has been re-investigated confirming th e absence of aromadendrane derivatives. The two Mediterranean Taonia s pecies differ sharply from the Canarian T. atomaria, that is known to elaborate meroditerpenoids.