CHEMOTAXONOMY AS AN AID IN DIFFERENTIATING WOOD OF EASTERN AND WESTERN WHITE PINE

Heartwoods from Pinus strobus (eastern white pine) and Pinus monticola (western white pine), which are difficult to distinguish anatomically, can be separated, with about 95% accuracy, by subjecting their acetone extracts to simple paper chromatography. Basically, this differentiation is possible because the relative proportions of certain flavanones vary in the two species, and when these are treated with the chromogenic spray, distinguishing colors are produced at different rates of speed. With P. strobus, the characteristic yellowish-orange spot results from higher percentages of cryptostrobin and strobobanksin, while the pinkish-red spot, typical of P. monticola extract, is due to a preponderance of pinocembrin.