Evaluation of chemosystematic characters in the genus Leontodon (Asteraceae)

Flavonoids, phenolic acids and sesquiterpene lactones were evaluated as qua litative and quantitative chemosystematic markers in the genus Leontodon by HPLC-UV and HPLC-MS analyses. One population of Leontodon hispidus L. show ed a high degree of variation between different plant organs and between di fferent individuals. Seasonal variation of phenolic acids in the leaves and of sesquiterpene lactones in the rhizomes was also pronounced. In contrast . phenolics in the heads were present in nearly constant amounts during the flowering period. Within species, analyses of samples originating from dif ferent altitudes (13 samples of L. helveticus from 1600-2950 m, 19 samples of L. autumnalis from 30-2075 m, and 61 samples of L. hispidus from 40-2550 m) exhibited a significant positive correlation between altitude of the co llection sites and total content of flavonoids. Unlike flavonoids, the phen olic acids showed no significant altitudinal variation. The data reveal mor e pronounced variation between rather than within species.