FLAVONOIDS OF HAWAIIAN ENDEMIC LYSIMACHIA

Flavonoids of 12 of the 13 extant species of Lysimachia (Primulaceae) endemic to the Hawaiian Islands were isolated and identified. Whenever possible, at least two populations were sampled. The flavonoid profil es consisted of various combinations of kaempferol, quercetin and isor hamnetin 3-O-mono-, di- and triglycosides, vitexin and isovitexin, and eriodictyol 7-O-glucoside. Flavonol di- and triglycosides were the pr edominant compounds present in all of the profiles. Profiles were vari able both within and among specimens such that taxon-specific patterns do not appear to exist in most cases. An exception is the finding tha t the three leaf forms of L. remyi subsp. remyi, the most variable tax on in the subgenus, exhibit the most coherent flavonoid pattern. Flavo noid variation is compared to other Hawaiian endemic species, e.g. Bid ens. Flavonoids do not support recognition of the endemic species, cur rently considered to constitute subgenus Lysimachiopsis, at the generi c level. The flavonoids of subgen. Lysimachiopsis have some structural features in common with each of the other subgenera for which data ar e available. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.