Kathleen A. Robson

Flavonoids of Wyethia angustifolia and W. helenioides

Abstract Seventeen flavonoids, including seven new natural products, were isolated from a dichloromethane extract of Wyethia angustifolia . Known compounds are:8- C -prenyleriodictyol, 6- C -prenyleriodictyol, 8- C -prenylnaringenin, 6-C-prenylnaringenin, orobol 7-methyl ether, orobol 3′-methyl ether, naringenin 4′-methyl ether, orobol, eriodictyol and naringenin. The new compounds are 6- C -prenylorobol, 6- C -prenylorobol 3′-methyl ether, orobol 7,3′-dimethyl ether, 8- C -prenyldihydroisorhamnetin, 7,8-dihydrooxepinocriodictyol, 7,8-dihydrooxepinodihydroquercetin and 3′,4′-dihydrooxepino-6′-hydroxybutein. A dichloromethane extract of Wyethia heleniodes yielded eleven compounds only five of which were previously reported from the species. All these compounds appear to occur on the leaf surface.

Flavonoids from Wyethia glabra

Abstract Ten flavonoid compounds, including three new natural products, were isolated from a dichloromethane extract of Wyethia glabra . The known compounds are: orobol 7-methyl ether, orobol 3′-methyl ether, naringenin 7-methyl ether, eriodictyol, 8- C -prenyleriodictyol, 6- C -prenyleriodictyol and 8- C -prenylnaringenin. Eriodictyol 7-methyl ether, 2′,4′,6′-trihydroxy-4-methoxychalcone and 6- C -prenylnaringenin are new natural products. An additional prenylated flavanone was isolated and partially characterized.

A Comparison of Rare and Common Grasses of the Stipeae. I. Greenhouse Studies of Growth and Variation in Four Species from Parapatric Populations

This is a comparative study of variation and growth rates between the widespread grasses Achnatherum (Stipa) lemmonii, Achnatherum (Stipa) thurberiana, and Achnatherum (Stipa) occidentale and their rare relative Achnatherum (Oryzopsis) hendersonii growing in shallow, frost-disturbed soils in central Washington. We assess two hypotheses: rare plants are less variable and do not compete as well as widespread plants. The former thesis will manifest itself in lower variation and more highly constrained integration; the latter by lower growth rates. The rare species usually has a lower growth rate and level of variation, especially in vegetative shoots, which are those most likely to affect survival. For reproductive shoots, A. hendersonii shows weaker integration in terms of the absolute level assessed, but integration appears stronger when relative levels are examined; the results for vegetative shoots are inconsistent. The lower growth rate of A. hendersonii may preclude its survival away from its typical habitat. The lower levels of variation may reflect selection at the native sites of A. hendersonii and thus contribute to its rarity. The lower level of variation in A. hendersonii contrasts with its local abundance at the study site, as compared with the more variable A. lemmonii, A. thurberiana, and A. occidentale. Local abundance combined with a low level of morphological variation may indicate A. hendersonii is genetically depauperate.

Flavonoids of Wyethia section Agnorhiza

Abstract Five species of Wyethia section Agnorhiza were examined for external leaf flavonoids. Twenty flavonoids, including a new natural product, 6-methoxyorobol 7-methyl ether, were isolated. The systematics of the group are discussed briefly.

Methylated flavonols from Wyethia bolanderi and Balsamorhiza macrophylla

Abstract A leaf wash of Wyethia bolanderi afforded eight known methylated flavonols: santin, ermanin, jaceidin, 3,6-dimethoxyapigenin, kaempferide, isokaempferide, axillarin and quercetin 3-methyl ether. A leaf wash of Balsamorhiza macrophylla afforded six known methylated flavonols: centaureidin, quercetin 3,4′-dimethyl ether, axillarin, spinacetin, tamarexetin and quercetin 3-methyl ether. The chemotaxonomy of the two genera is discussed briefly.

Studies into abstract properties of individuals. VI. The degree of emergence in individuals, populations, species and a three species lineage.

Emergent properties derived from the integration among descriptive variables were explored in three related grass species, Achnatherum lemmonii, Achnatherum hendersonii and Achnatherum wallowaensis. Different levels of organization were compared: individuals, populations, species, species-pairs and all three species combined. Emergence was seen at all levels with populations having the lowest degree followed by individuals, species and combinations of species. Because there were no variables unique to any level analyzed, emergence is more than the appearance of new structures. As the degree of emergence increases there is also an increase in variation in integration, the result of new growth rates. Time may explain the different degrees of emergence at the different levels. The trend populations-species-combination of species is easily related to time; the first are younger than the last. An individual develops over a greater period of time than a population. The greater time of existence of a species may account for a greater degree of emergence than an individual. In an individual the local time expressed during ontogeny establishes boundary conditions for an individual. As that local time becomes incorporated into global, or phylogenetic, time, the boundary conditions for taxa and lineages is established.

Studies into Abstract Properties of Individuals. VII. Emergence in Hesperostipa comata and Three Species of Achnatherum (Poaceae)

Emergence is examined in populations of Hesperostipa comata, and this grass is compared to individuals, populations, and three additional species of Achnatherum. The Achnatherum species are closely related and more distantly related to H. comata. Emergent properties are assessed through measurements of grass spikelets and the divergence from vectors of isometry as expressed in individuals, populations, species, and species groups. Our results demonstrate that the strongest degrees of emergence are expressed at the levels of individuals, species, and groups of species, with the strongest of all being seen when H. comata is compared with the trio of Achnatherum species; populations express the least emergence. This reflects evolutionary differentiation as expressed through the ontogenetic events that led to the formation of spikelets. It can be related to concepts of local and global time; the flow of energy, matter, and information; and the driving force of the expression of novelty (entropy) in organized and historically constrained biological systems.

6-Methoxyflavonoids from Balsamorhiza sectionArtorhiza

Abstract The three species comprising Balsamorhiza section Artorhiza were examined for their external leaf flavonoids. Eight methylated flavonoids were isolated: patuletin, jaceidin, betuletol, axillarin, spinacetin, 6-methoxykaempferol, hispidulin and santin. The chemotaxonomy of the group and morphological correlations are discussed.

WITHIN-SPECIES ORGANIZATION IN WYETHIA AND BALSAMORHIZA AND AN ASSESSMENT OF EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS

Summary The assertion that ontogeny and phylogeny are closely related phenomena seems to be valid, but the nature of this relationship has not been explored in sufficient depth. The present study details some quantitative methods through which the nature of speciation and development can be simultaneously addressed. Within-species variation was assessed for species of the related genera Wyethia, Balsamorhiza, and Helianthella (Asteraceae, Heliantheae) for three data sets consisting of shoot, terminal head, and cauline leaf variables. Although the changes in organization that occur through development could not be directly measured here, variation among mature plants permits inferences to be made regarding the product of ontogeny. Within-species variation appears to be unique and unpredictable, even among species that are sympatric or share membership in small monophyletic groups. Such unique and unpredictable variation can be interpreted as changes in organization that occur as the partial manifestation of phylogenesis. Studies on other plants indicate similar changes in variation occur during ontogeny. These results imply that studies concerned with changing organization will provide clarification of the relationship between development and speciation. A necessary prerequisite to a systematic study is an understanding of the development and integration of characters used in the study. A discussion of explanations claiming to address biological change and their applicability to these results is provided. Neo-Darwinian theory appears incapable of providing an adequate explanation of the results presented here, as changing organization and increasing complexity would not be predicted from it. On the other hand, Brooks and Wileys theory of evolution, based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics, does predict an irreversible increase in complexity in biological systems as they change with time. Explication of the relationships between ontogeny and phylogeny may be forthcoming from studies stressing the description of ontogenetic variation among individuals set within an independently derived phylogenetic framework.