Chromatographic Comparison of Dicentra Species and Hybrids

Ten species of Dicentra were examined by two‐dimensional descending paper chromatography. The flavonoid components, including anthocyanins, formed patterns which were specific to a species or a group of closely related species, and these confirmed certain natural relationships within the genus. Some of the components were hydrolyzed and close structural relationships among them were revealed. They were further characterized by spray reactions and RF measurements in a variety of solvent systems. The inheritance of the components, especially of the anthocyanins, was studied in the hybrids. All parental substances appeared in some hybrids, but in others some parental components were missing. “Hybrid substances” which had not been present in either parent were found in certain hybrids. This is thought to represent either reconstruction of ancestral biosynthetic pathways, probably through genic complementation, or extension of existing synthetic routes through some type of interaction between parental genomes.