SEROLOGICAL STUDIES IN BAPTISIA AND CERTAIN OTHER GENERA OF THE LEGUMINOSAE

Fourteen species of Baptisia were compared serologically, using antiserum against B. nuttalliana. By means of both immunoelectrophoretic and double-diffusion techniques, it was possible to disclose 11 distinct arcs plus some weaker arcs, with few reliable (definite and repeatable) differences detected among the species of Baptisia investigated. Since the individual species of Baptisia are often quite distinctive, as judged by other chemical and morphological criteria, the serological data are in this instance conservative and appear to be effective in circumscribing the genus. In contrast, striking interspecific differences in the serological properties of unicellular green algae have been obtained (reported elsewhere) by similar techniques in this laboratory. It is concluded that serological data should be regarded as adjuncts to other systematic knowledge only on the basis of empirical manifestations of their utility. There is no clear justification for regarding serological data as intrinsically either superior or inferior to other systematic criteria.