Greenish blue flower colour of Strongylodon macrobotrys

The flower colour of Strongyledon macrobotrys is luminous blue green and attracts bats for pollination. The chemical basis for development of the flower colour was investigated. The flower contained an anthocyanin (malvin) and a flavone (saponarin), approximately 1:9 (malvin: saponarin) in molar ratio. The pH of the pigmented epidermal cell sap of the jade vine petal was exceptionally high, 7.90, while the pH value of the colourless inner tissue was 5.60. Copigmentation test using the mixtures of malvin and saponarin (1:9 M ratio) at various pH values revealed that the characteristic blue green colour of the jade vine is developed by copigmentation of malvin with saponarin in slightly alkaline cell sap, pH 7.9. In the copigmentation in slightly alkaline condition, saponarin shows a strong yellow colour, which gives a greenish tone to the flower colour.

Research highlights
► The research revealed that the characteristic blue green colour of the jade vine is developed by copigmentation of anthocyanin with flavone in alkaline cell sap, pH 7.9. In slightly alkaline condition, flavone shows a strong yellow colour, which gives a greenish tone to the flower colour.