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 profiles consisted of various combinations of kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin 3-O-mono-, di- and triglycosides, vitexin and isovitexin, and eriodictyol 7-O-glucoside. Flavonol di- and triglycosides were the predominant compounds present in all of the profiles. Profiles were variable both within and among specimens such that taxon-specific patterns do not appear to exist in most cases. An exception is the finding that the three leaf forms of L. remyi subsp. remyi, the most variable taxon in the subgenus, exhibit the most coherent flavonoid pattern. Flavonoid variation is compared to other Hawaiian endemic species, e.g. Bidens. Flavonoids do not support recognition of the endemic species, currently considered to constitute subgenus Lysimachiopsis, at the generic level. The flavonoids of subgen. Lysimachiopsis have some structural features in common with each of the other subgenera for which data are available. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.