A POLYGONAL PRESENTATION OF CHROMATOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATIONS ON THE PHENOLIC CONTENT OF CERTAIN SPECIES OFLOTUS

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Abstract
A chemotaxonomic study of 28 taxa of the genus Lotus was made for phenolic constituents in leaves as determined by paper chromatographic analyses. The pairs of taxa were compared in terms of chromatographic affinity as expressed by their paired affinity index and the paired indices of each taxon illustrated in the form of polygonal graphs. Distinctive differences were noted between the polygons of series 1 and 2 of the sect. Xantholotus. Within series 2, the general similarity of the polygons between the spp. of the L. corniculatus, L. angustissimus, and L. aegeus groups indicated their dose taxonomic affinity. L. tenuis and L. borbasii have quite different polygons from that of any other sp. in the L. corniculatus group and also from those of the other groups in series 2. The polygon of L. australis of the sect. Erythrolotus is most similar to that of L. hispidus of the L. angustissimus group of the sect. Xantholotus, but there is no evidence in the taxonomic literature of any relationship between these 2 spp. The polygon of L. siliquosus of the subgenus Tetragonolobus is markedly different from the polygons of all of the other taxa which belong to the subgenus Edentolotus. The evidence would support those who have considered Tetragonolobus to be of generic status. The data indicate the value of chemotaxonomic studies in Lotus for supplementing other biosystematic studies, since in certain cases chromosome numbers were of no aid in resolving species relationships.