THE SYSTEMATIC DISTRIBUTION OF TANNINS IN THE LEAVES OF ANGIOSPERMS -A TOOL FOR ECOLOGICAL-STUDIES

The systematic distribution of tannins in foliar tissues has not been comprehensively reviewed for the Angiosperms in over 20 years. Here th eir systematic distribution is assessed using data based on protein pr ecipitation or chemically specific tests. Fewer families are character ized by the typical presence of tannins than has previously been repor ted, and a greater variation in the occurrence of tannins in species s ampled from within single plant families has been detected. This study presents the proportion of tannin-containing species in angiosperm fa milies arranged according to the system of Cronquist for the first tim e. The potential utility of these data in testing ecological ideas abo ut the distribution of tannins, such as those based on plant habit or life-history, is discussed.