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3-Formyl- and 3-bromo-N-methylcytisine derivatives of the alkaloid N-methylcytisine from Thermopsis alterniflora were synthesized. Their structures were established using NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure analyses. The crystal structure of 3-formyl-N-methylcytisine perchlorate involves two protonated cations mutually bonded by a bifurcated N–H…O H-bond. A Br…O donor–acceptor interaction is observed in the crystal of 3-bromo-N-methylcytisine.

The vast majority of the species of family Leguminosae have an apocarpous monomerous gynoecium. However, only a few taxa regularly produce multicarpellate gynoecia. The only known species of papilionoid legumes which has both a typical “flag blossom” and more than one carpel is Thermopsis turcica (tribe Thermopsideae). We studied the floral ontogeny of T. turcica with special reference to its gynoecium initiation and development. Flowers arise in simple terminal racemes in a helical order and are subtended by bracts. Bracteoles are initiated but then suppressed. Sepals appear more or less simultaneously. Then, petals emerge and remain retarded in development until later stages. The gynoecium usually includes three carpels with an abaxial one initiating first and two adaxial carpels arising later and developing somewhat asynchronously. The abaxial carpel appears concomitant with the outer stamens and is always oriented with its cleft toward the adaxial side, while the adaxial carpels face each other with their clefts and have them slightly turned to the adaxial side. Rarely uni-, bi- or tetracarpellate flowers arise. Seed productivity of T. turcica is on approximately the same level as in unicarpellate species of Thermopsis hence supporting the fact that the multicarpellate habit is adaptive or at least not harmful in this species.

A relict endemic species originating from Turkey, Thermopsis turcica, was excluded from Thermopsis in consideration of morphologic studies based on its flowers and fruits as well as micromorphological features that were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and data from supporting molecular analyses internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Additionally, phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony and neighbour-joining) were conducted using PAUP 4.0 software. These analyses supported a new taxonomical position for the Turkish species. SEM and morphological studies indicated that the species has unique features that have not been observed in other Thermopsideae species. The unique features and characteristics are comprehensively illustrated here. For confirmation of our purpose, the chromosome number and karyotype of V. turcica were determined via the KAMERAM software program. As a result, all detailed examinations and comparisons of Vuralia and related genera suggest that Vuralia is a new monotypic genus within Thermopsideae, and a new genus and combination nova were established for this Turkish species.

Based on nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, Thermopsideae is phylogenetically studied within a genistoid background. Analysis reveals that the tribe is not supported as a monophyletic group. Some species of Sophora s.s are nested within it. The central Asian desert Ammopiptanthus forms an isolated clade but is relatively remote to other Thermopsideae members. Piptanthus, Anagyris, Baptisia, and Thermopsis are clustered together into a robust clade. We hence propose that the tribe could either be reduced to just the four 'core genera' with Ammopiptanthus excluded, or, as an alternative, that Thermopsideae could become part of a new Sophoreae s.s. if it is re-circumscribed in the future. Both Piptanthus and Baptisia appear as monophyletic. The genus Anagyris is closer to some east Asian Thermopsis species than to Piptanthus. The east Asian and North American disjunct Thermopsis is not monophyletic. The ITS results suggest a geographical division between the Old World and New World Thermopsis. The east Asian species are clustered with Piptanthus and Anagyris, whereas the North American species are allied to Baptisia. Nonetheless, the only two north-eastern east Asian native Thermopsis species appear to be more related to the North American group than to the east Asian one. The related biogeographical significance has therefore been additionally discussed. (c) 2006 The Linnean Society of London.

The lipid groups and fatty-acid composition of Thermopsis alterniflora (Leguminosae) bean seeds and shells were established. It was shown that shell lipids have a greater content of unsaponified substances, galactolipids, and esterfied unsaturated 18:1, 18:2, and 18:3 acids (75% total) than seed lipids.

Five species of Pedicularis were examined for evidence of alkaloid transfer from host plants. Pedicularis groenlandica and P. bracteosa were found to take up the pyrrolizidine alkaloid senecionine from the host Senecio triangularis. Pedicularis crenulata contained anagyrine from its host Thermopsis montana and P. grayi contained N-methylcytisine from its Thermopsis divaricarpa host. Pedicularis racemosa contained quinolizidines from a Lupinus argenteus hybrid. In addition, P. bracteosa was found to contain pinidinol, taken up from the host Picea engelmannii.

concentrated during processing of the first crude extract (produced by a polar extractant) by a less polar solvent. The yield of lipids extracted from the resinous wastes can reach 90–98% of the waste mass. Herein we communicate results from a study of processing wastes of aerial parts of Peganum harmala L. (Zygophyllaceae) and Thermopsis alterniflora Regel et Schmalh. (Fabaceae) and the biological activity of lipid concentrates obtained from them. Waste samples were obtained from the pilot plant of the Yunusov Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, AS, RU. Lipids from reprocessed raw material of these plants were previously studied [5, 6]. The wastes were a dark-green resinous mass with a brown tint and herbaceous aroma. Preliminary analyses for the presence of lipids were carried out by common TLC methods on Silufol plates and plates with thin layers of silica gel [7] using comparison with authentic samples. The results showed that the samples were rich in lipids and lipophilic compounds, which were observed previously in the starting material [5, 6]. Their qualitative composition including neutral lipids (NL), glycolipids (GL), and phospholipids (PL) in addition to carotinoids and chlorophyll pigments also turned out to be identical. Next the waste samples were treated with CHCl 3 . The lipid extracts were washed of ballast materials and separated using column chromatography. Components of individual lipid groups and lipophilic compounds in the isolated fractions were identified using TLC. The solvent systems for TLC were hexane:Et 2 O:AcOH (90:10:1 and 70:30:1) for NL; (CH 3 ) 2 CO:C 6 H 6 :H 2 O (91:30:8) for GL, and CHCl 3 :MeOH:NH 4 OH (65:25:4) for PL. The yields of lipids from the two samples were >50% of the waste mass. The ratio of NL to polar lipids (GL and PL) in processing wastes of P. harmala was 2:1; in T. alterniflora wastes, 1:1. NL of the studied wastes consisted almost half of free fatty acids. The remainder consisted of triacylglycerides, esters of fatty alcohols, triterpenols, and sterols in addition to lipophilic compounds (carotinoids, hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, phytosterols, and pigments). Lipids from P. harmala waste contained much more diacylglycerides, monoacylglycerides, and unidentified compounds than those of T. alterniflora. GL dominated the polar lipids. GL contained digalactosyldiacylglycerides, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerides, and sterylglycosides and their fattyacid esters. The principal component of the GL of the studied samples was monogalactosyldiacylglycerides. The PL consisted of five components. The main ones were phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylinositols, and phosphatidic acids. The minor ones were phosphatidylglycerines and phosphatidylcholines. Unsaponified components and total fatty acids of all lipids were isolated from the two samples by alkaline hydrolysis under forcing conditions [7]. Quantitative analysis of the fractions showed that lipids from T. alterniflora wastes contained more unsaponified components (21.8%) than those from P. harmala wastes (17.0%).

Interest in virus diseases of perennial ornamentals has been increasing because of their increasing monetary value, because wholesale producers perceive an advantage in marketing disease-free stock, and because widespread international movement of these plants carries the risk of introduction of exotic viruses. In an ongoing study to identify and document viral diseases of perennial ornamentals used in the United States commercial horticultural industry, three virus-like diseases of astilbe (Astilbe chinensis), fuschia (Fuschia cv. Gartenmeister) and false lupine (Thermopsis caroliniana) occurring in Minnesota were investigated. Symptomatic plants were selected from lots in commercial greenhouses and garden centers in several locations in Minnesota. Astilbe with systemic chlorosis was found to be infected with Tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV). Fuschia with leaf mottling and leaf deformation was found to be infected with Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and false lupine with mosaic and leaf deformation symptoms was found to be infected with Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV). Identification of the three viruses was based on: 1) virion presence and morphology in partially purified leaf extracts using electron microscopy (EM) and immunosorbent electron microscopy (1); 2) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using crude leaf extracts; and 3) biological properties, including symptoms produced in indicator plants. Antisera to BYMV (ATCC PVAS-368), CMV (ATCC PVAS-30), and TRSV (ATCC PVAS-157) were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA. No other virus-like particles were observed with EM in partially purified leaf extracts of the three plants, no virus-like particles were observed in similar preparations from asymptomatic plants, and indicator plant tests did not indicate the presence of any other mechanically transmissible viruses. The TRSV isolate from astilbe and the BYMV isolate from false lupine produced typical symptoms on indicator plants susceptible to known isolates of these two viruses. The CMV isolate from fuschia was similar to previously described isolates of CMV (2) in most respects and was readily transmitted in a nonpersistent manner by Myzus persicae, but was unusual in that it did not infect Nicotiania benthamiana, N. glutinosa, and tomato, which are normally highly susceptible to infection by CMV. The identity of the fuschia CMV isolate was further confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification with CMV-specific oligonucleotide primers (3). The PCR product was of the predicted size (500 bp) and was cleaved by restriction digestion with EcoRI, suggesting that the fuschia virus is a Type II CMV isolate (3). To my knowledge, this is the first report of TRSV infection in astilbe, CMV infection in fuschia, and of a viral disease of false lupine. References: (1) Y. C. Ahlawat et al. Plant Dis. 80:590, 1996. (2) A. A. Brunt et al. Viruses of Plants. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 1995. (3) S. Wylie et al. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 44:41, 1993.

From the epigeal part ofThermopsis alterniflora Rgl.et Schmalh. (Fabaceae), in addition to formononetin, ononin, cynaroside, and rothindin, two new acylated flavone glycosides have been isolated and, on the basis of chemical transformations and spectral characteristics, their structures have been established as 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-3′-methoxyflavone 7-O-(6″-O-crotonoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) and 4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone 7-O-(6″-O-crotonoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside).

The distribution of 12 flavones and 19 isoflavones in 13 taxa of Thermopsis is reported.

The paper gives the chromosome numbers of 45 species from 72 Mongolian localities, belonging to the genera:Amygdalus, Asparagus, Astragalus, Cancrinia, Caragana, Chamaerhodos, Chelidonium, Chesneya, Dianthus, Hypecoum, Lathyrus, Lilium, Oxytropis, Papaver, Potentilla, Schizonepeta, Sibbaldia, Thermopsis, Trifolium, Trigonella, Vicia. Chromosome morphology of three species ofChamaerhodos and taxonomical remarks on some other species are added. A new combinationSibbaldia sericea (Grubov) Sojak is proposed.

1. The epigeal part ofThermopsis alterniflora at the beginning of flowering contains 3.35% of combined alkaloids. The separation of the combined bases yielded cytisine, N-methylcytisine, pachycarpine, thermopsine, and the new alkaloid alteramine.

From the lipophilic fraction of the substances from the herbage ofThermopsis alterniflora we have isolated a molecular compound of two flavonoids, one of which has been identified as chrysoeriol, while the second, with the composition C16H12O5, mp 274–275°C, is a new isoflavone which we have called teralin. On the basis of spectral characteristics and the products of alkaline fusion, we have proposed for it the structure of 4′,7-dihydroxy-2′-methoxyisoflavone.

From the epigeal part ofThermopsis alterniflora, in addition to the alkaloids found previously, argentine, argentamine, and a new alkaloid, dimethamine, which is a representative of the bimolecular series, have been isolated. The structure of 3-(3′,4′-dihydro-N-methylcytisin-5′-yl)-N-methylcytisine has been proposed for dimethamine on the basis of IR, UV, mass, and NMR spectra and also from its conversion products.

A polarographic method has been developed for the determination of the content of cytisine in the combined alkaloids fromThermopsis alterniflora Rgl.

A. N. Svechnikova, R. U. Umarova, M. B. Gorovin, K. L. Seitanidi, Ya. V. Rashkes, M. R. Yagudaev, and N. K. Abubakirov, Khim. Prir. Soedin., 67 (1981). M. I. Isaev, M. B. Gorovits, N. D. Abdullaev, and N. K. Abubakirov, Khim. Prir. Soedin., 458 (1982). A. N. Svechnikova, R. Ya. Umarova, M. B. Gorovits, N. D. Abdullaev, and N. K. Abubakirov, Khim. Prir. Soedin., 208 (1982). M. I. Asaev, M. B. Gorovits, N. D. Abdullaev, and N. K. Abubakirov, Khim. Prir. Soedin., 180 (1983). L. J. Swift, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 74, 1099 (1952). A. N. Svechnikova, R. U. Umarova, M. B. Gorovits, and N. K. Abubakirov, Khim. Prir. Soedin., 204 (1982). A. N. Svechnikova, R. U. Umarova, N. D. Abdullaev, M. B. Gorovits, T. T. Gorovits, and N. K. Abubakirov, Khim. Prir. Soedin., 460 (1983).

This report consists of nomenclatural alterations and additions incident to taxonomic studies on United States Leguminosae. There are four new varieties and twenty new combinations.

During a monographic treatment of the genus Baptisia, interest was aroused in the state of taxonomic confusion into which its closest generic affinity, Thermopsis, had fallen. According to the "Index Kewensis" and the Gray Herbarium Catalogue, it is comprised of thirty species: eight Asiatic, not considered in this revision; and twenty-two North Americanfour from the southeastern United States, and eighteen from the western United States. The latter group constitutes a western geographical supplement of Baptisia whose western limits roughly coincide with the eastern limits of Thermopsts. The problems were found to be largely bibliographical. The present treatment proposes no novelties, but has indicated two new combinations. It consists largely of a drastic reduction of a number of species. The four heretofore recognized southeastern species are reduced to three, and the eighteen western species have been reduced to seven species and five varieties. A key to the species, and brief descriptions with complete citations of synonyms and type or authentic specimens are given. Relative uniformity, particularly within the western group, makes delimitation of entities difficult in many cases. As in Baptisia, flower structure furnishes little of value in this respect, and has therefore been given little emphasis. Fruit and vegetative characters seem to be the best bases for the separation of species, and have been stressed accordingly. Considerable doubt is felt by the author as to the validity of the two varieties of T. rhombifolia: annulocarpa and arenosa, for they