CHRYSIN AND OTHER LEAF EXUDATE FLAVONOIDS IN THE GENUS PELARGONIUM

In a chemotaxonomic survey of 57 Pelargonium species, leaf exudate fla vonoids were detected in 35% of the sample, mostly in trace amounts. H owever, chrysin and a related C-methylflavanone were identified as maj or leaf surface constituents of P. crispum, and a mixture of quercetin and kaempferol mono-, and di- and trimethyl ethers of P. quercifolium . In two other species, P. fulgidum and P. exstipulatum, methylated fl avones were the only lipophilic flavonoids present. This is the first report of leaf surface flavonoids from the genus Pelargonium. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.