Phytosociological and geographical variation of flavonoid glycosides in Chaerophyllum aureum

Abstract Specimens of Chaerophyllum aureum collected from two types of alpine plant community, high altitude manured meadows (Triseto-Polygonion) and lower elevation tall grass prairies (Adenostylion), exhibited a general correlation of their glycosidic flavonoid pattern with their phytosociological origin. However, the flavonoid profiles of plants from each of the two communities varied from one collection area to another, which emphasized the geographical parameter. Thus, all the specimens from the Triseto-Polygonion growing in the Ubaye Valley and Val Grana lack lutelin 7-diglucoside, a characteristic constituent of specimens from the Adenostylion. On the other hand, in the Tinee Valley, where all C. aureum specimens lack luteolin 7-diglucoside, diosmetin 7-glucoside is present in C. aureum populations occurring in the Adenostylion but not those in the Triseto-Polygonion.