Flavonoid diversity and geographic endemism in Parthenium

The distribution of 34 flavonoids detected in the North American species of Parthenium indicates that flavonoid diversity and structural types are correlated with biological aspects of different species types. Widespread species occurring in a variety of habitat types are characterized by greater numbers of flavonoids, primarily as the result of flavonoid glycoside diversity; while species which are geographically isolated in limestone or gypsum habitats are characterized by a tendency to depauperate flavonoid patterns with major methylated aglycone components. The possibility that glycosylation is related to self-detoxification and preservation of toxic phenolic potential is discussed. It is shown that parallel chemical adaptations, similar to the well-known parallel morphological adaptations of unrelated species which coexist in certain habitats, may occur