Abstract
AbstractThe morphological characteristics and the alkaloid content of seedlings of the closely related Erythrina americana and E. coralloides were studied in order to document new taxonomic evidence for the separation of these species. Seedlings of E. americana have a slim hypocotyl, opposed trifoliate juvenile leaves with entire margin and acuminated apex. The seedlings of E. coralloides are distinguished by a hypocotyl that becomes swollen, grooved and curved during growth, and opposed unilobate juvenile leaves with whole margin and mucronated apex. Moreover, leaves, hypocotyls and roots develop in a different manner in each species. The alkaloids erysosalvine, erythraline‐N‐oxide, erythrartine and 8‐oxo‐α‐erythroidine are present only in seedlings of E. americana, whilst erythraline and erysopine are exclusive to E. coralloides . It is reasoned that the morphological and chemical evidence revealed in this study supports the recognition of both taxa as independent species. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
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