Chemotaxonomical study of the subtribe Phaseolinae (Phaseoleae-Papilionoideae-Leguminosae) I: Chromatography of flavonoids from argentinian species of the genus Macroptilium.

This is the first paper of a chemotaxonomic serial studies of the subtribe Phaseolinae in Argentina, wich comprises the generic complex Phaseolus-Vigna-Macroptilium. Chromatographic patterns of 8 species of the genus Macroptilium were determined. Cluster analysis and ordination by principal coordinates analysis were applied to 36 chemical characters ("spots") leading to two distinct groups. These results corroborate the previous taxonomic treatment for this genus based on morphological and palynological studies. Chemical evidence seems to support the sections Macroptilium and Microcochle proposed by Lackey according to Piper, as well as the natural grouping of the species in each of these taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]