SECONDARY CHEMISTRY OF THE LEAF SURFACE OF FLOURENSIA-CERNUA

Epicuticular wax accounted for 9.2% of the dry wt, of whole Flourensia cernua (tarbush) leaves. Leaf surface extracts of tarbush were analyz ed for mono- and sesquiterpenoids with gas chromatography-mass spectro metry. Camphene, beta-myrcene, 3-carene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, borneo l, cis-jasmone, beta-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide and globulol w ere consistently present on the leaf surface of tarbush. Concentration s of several unidentified compounds were estimated. A great deal of pl ant-to-plant variability was detected in leaf surface mono- and sesqui terpenoid concentration. Information obtained on surface chemistry mig ht be exploited to enhance the use of tarbush as a forage for domestic herbivores.