Seed fats of some New Zealand liliaceae

The seed fats of Herpolirion novae‐zelandiae, Xeronema callistemon, Dianella intermedia , two species of Arthropodium and six of Bulbinella , members of the family Liliaceae, have been examined, and found to contain as their predominant fatty acids linoleic 65–87%, oleic 7–24% and palmitic 5–16%. They are similar to Group 1 of Astelia (Liliaceae). Iphigenia novae‐zelandiae (Liliaceae) shows a different pattern of fatty acids, containing 17% hexadecenoic, 20% palmitic, 26% linoleic and 34% oleic acids as well as trace amounts of C 12 , C 14 , C 15 and C 17 alkanoic and C 15 and C 17 alkenoic acids. It is thereby distinguished from the other New Zealand Liliaceae, the New Zealand Agavaceae and the New Zealand Juncaceae.