Chemistry and Phylogeny of the Angiosperms

Abstract

THERE are two classes of organic constituents of plants which seem to be confined to the dicotyledons: the ellagitannins (usually, if not exclusively, glucose esters of hexahydroxy-diphenic acid); and a class of substances to which the name “iridoid” has unfortunately been given, of which asperuloside (IV) and aucubin (V) are the best-known members. Following Hegnauer's use of the term aucubinartig I propose to introduce the term “aucubinoid” for these substances. These compounds and the ellagitannins are distributed in an interesting way throughout the families and orders of the dicotyledons.