Chemosystematics of the composiate: Flavonoid patterns in the Chrysanthemum complex of the tribe Anthemideae

Petal and leaf flavonoids have been identified in twenty-one species from seven genera of the Compositae-Anthemideae. A number of novel pigments have been found, including the 7-glucoside of quercetagetin 3′-methyl ether, which occurs in flowers of Chrysanthemum coronarium. 7-Glucuronides of apigenin, luteolin and chrysoeriol have been detected in the tribe for the first time; these three flavones also occur as a range of 7-diglycosides and chrysoeriol as an acylated glycoside. The distribution of these flavonoids supports the views of some systematists that the Chrysanthemum complex should be separated into a number of genera rather than maintained as a single genus. Thus, the species of Chrysanthemum (sensu stricto) studied are characterized by the presence of quercetagetin, patuletin and quercetin 7-glucosides, whereas those of Anthemis have only patuletin 7-glucoside. By contrast, Leucanthemum species have apigenin 7-glucuronide and Tripleurospermum luteolin 7-glucoside. Finally, Tanacetum species are characterized by the presence of luteolin and chrysoeriol 7-glucuronides and quercetin 7-glucoside.