THE TAXONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF ANTHOCHLORS IN THE SUBTRIBE COREOPSIDINAE (COMPOSITAE, HELIANTHEAE)

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Abstract
Anthochlors (chalcones and aurones) are found in a number of plant families including the Compositae. Within this family they were once thought to occur only in the subtribe Coreopsidinae of the tribe Heliantheae. More recent studies show them to occur also in the tribes Cardueae, Eupatorieae, Helineae, Inuleae, and Lactuceae. This has suggested that anthochlors are no longer good taxonomic markers for the Coreopsidinae. A survey of 69 of approximately 210 genera of the Heliantheae shows anthochlors present only in the Coreopsidinae except for Helianthus, Simsia, Tithonia, and Viguiera, closely related genera of the subtribe Helianthinae. Of the 32 genera of the Coreopsidinae recently recognized, 30 were surveyed from available material and all contain anthochlors except Guardiola and Venegasia. The results indicate that, despite some variation, anthochlors are still good taxonomic markers for the Coreopsidinae. This represents the only case within the family in which a particular type of flavonoid is taxonomically diagnostic at the subtribal level.
Funding Information
  • National Science Foundation (DEB‐75‐20819, DEB‐77‐21727)

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