Eriophyllum Lanatum Research Articles

Chemical Basis for Aspilia Leaf-Swallowing by Chimpanzees: A Reanalysis

Thiarubrine A, an antimicrobial and nematocidal 1,2-dithiin polyyne has been reported to be a constituent of Aspilia leaves swallowed whole by chimpanzees. Aspilia samples were analyzed for the presence of thiarubrine A and other sulfur-containing polyynes using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and an antifungal bioassay. Thiarubrines A, B, D, and E and their corresponding thiophenes were not present in the leaves of three Aspilia species including A. mossambicensis and A. rudis, which are swallowed by chimpanzees at Mahale Mountains National Park and Gombe National Park, Tanzania. Antifungal activity, indicative of the presence of thiarubrines, was not detected in Aspilia leaf samples. Small amounts of thiarubrines A and B, and thiophenes A and B were found in A. mossambicensis roots. Analysis of three North American taxa found high concentrations of thiarubrines and thiophenes in the roots of Eriophyllum lanatum and Chaenactis douglasii, and the roots and leaves of Ambrosia chamissonis.

Mycorrhizal status of some plants of southwestern British Columbia

During the summer of 1986, plants were collected from University of British Columbia Research Farm at Oyster River, Vancouver Island, and their mycorrhizal status was determined. Of the 60 plant species examined, 44 were always vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal, 13 were always nonmycorrhizal, and three varied. Nonmycorrhizal plants were found in species belonging to the following families: Araceae, Caryophyllaceae, Compositae, Cruciferae, Gramineae, Onagraceae, Polygonaceae, and Portulacaceae. The mycorrhizal status of 15 plant species is reported here for the first time. Of these, the nonmycorrhizal species included Lysichitum americanum (Araceae), Stellaria simcoei, Stellaria calycantha (Caryophyllaceae), and Epilobium minutum (Onagraceae), and the mycorrhizal species included Adenocaulon bicolor, Eriophyllum lanatum var. achillaeoides, Grindelia squarrosa var. serrulata (Compositae), Poa gracillima (Gramineae), Brodiaea coronaria, Disporum hookerii (Lilaceae), Polypodium glycyrrhiza (Polypodiaceae), Ranunculus uncinatus (Ranunculaceae), Rosa nutkana var. nutkana (Rosaceae), Collinsia parviflora (Scrophulariaceae), and Viola glabella (Violaceae).

A novel antileukemic sesquiterpene lactone. Synthesis of racemic eriolanin

The synthesis of dl-eriolanin 1, highly oxygenated 1,10-seco-eudesmanolide isolated from the chloroform extracts of Eriophyllum lanatum Forbes (Compositae), is reported.

Two dithiacyclohexadiene polyacetylenes from Chaenactis douglasii and Eriophyllum lanatum

We have isolated two dithiapolyacetylenes from the roots of Chaenactis douglasii and from the plant roots as well as root cultures of Eriophyllum lanatum, namely 1-(2-methylethyn)-4-(hex-1,3-diyn-4-ene)-2,3-dithiacyclohexa-4,6-diene, and 1-(4-methylbut-1,3-diyn)-4-(but-1-yn-3-ene)-2,3-dithiacyclohexa-4,6-diene. We propose the trivial names thiarubrine A and thiarubrine B for these compounds.

Eriolangin and eriolanin, novel antileukaemic seco-eudesmanolides from Eriophyllum lanatum

The isolation and structural elucidation of eriolangin (1) and eriolanin (2), novel antileukaemic 1,10-seco-eudesmanolides from Eriophyllum lanatum, are reported.

Ecology of Subalpine Meadows in the Olympic Mountains, Washington

The following eight community types in the Olympic Mountains, delimited from an ordination of 38 plots, are described: (1) the cushion plant type occurring in dry habitats on exposed knolls or ridge tops; (2) the dry grass—forb type occurring on steep, dry, south— to west—facing slopes; (3) the mesic grass type occurring on mesic, south— to west—facing slopes; (4) the moist Saussaurea forb type occurring in shallow gullies kept moist by melting snowbanks or shallow streams; (5) the moists Valeriana forb type occuring on steep, northeast—facing slopes; (6) the tall sedge type mostly occurring at higher elevations on many aspects and topographic situations, depending on location in the Olympic Mountains; (7) the heath shrub type occurring in cool habitats where snow remains until mid— to late July; and (8) the dwarf sedge type occurring in high subalpine to alpine areas where snow remains until late July to early August. Soils are mostly poorly developed (Entisol and Inceptisol), but some have well—developed horizons (Spodosol). The less developed soils generally had higher amounts of available nutrients. Physical properties differed little between soils in each community, except for the fraction >2 mm which varied from a high of 82% in the dry grass—forb community to a low of 31% in the tall sedge community. Solar radiation, wind velocity, precipitation, atmospheric moisture, temperature, and soil moisture were monitored in the dry grass—forb, mesic grass, and Saussaurea forb communities. Total solar radiation received was similar in the summers of 1966 and 1967. Wind velocity was low in all communities; the highest average for a summer was 1.2—1.6 m/sec in the mesic grass community. Temperatures and vapor pressure deficits were highest in the dry grass—forb community and lowest in the moist Saussaurea forb community. Precipitation differed little among stations. Soil moisture in 1967 was available for the shortest period in the dry grass—forb community and 3 and 5 weeks longer in the mesic grass and moist Saussaurea forb communities, respectively. Shoot productivity was determined in three communities, and standing crop of shoots and roots was determined in five communities. Productivity values were 1.2, 2.7, and 11.4 g/m2 per day in the dry grass—forb, mesic grass, and moist Saussaurea forb communities, respectively. Peak shoot production, ranked from low to high, was dry grass—forb (107 g/m2), dwarf sedge (157 g/m2), mesic grass (245 g/m2), tall sedge (395 g/m2), and moist Saussaurea forb (502 g/m2). Peak root production ranged from a high of 3,257 g/m2 in the tall sedge community to a low of 1,234 g/m2 in the moist Saussaurea forb community. Chlorophyll content in the five communities followed the same trend as shoot production. The correlation between ovendry weight of shoots and chlorophyll content was high (r = .70, p < .01). Differences in water potentials were small among the species from the dry grass—forb, mesic grass, and moist Saussaurea forb communities, and the lowest water potentials were mostly between —14 and —16 bars. The effect of light, temperature, and soil moisture on photosynthesis was determined for Caltha leptosepala (wet site species), Saussaurea americana (moist site species), Festuca idahoensis and Lupinus latifolius (mesic site species), and Eriophyllum lanatum (dry site species). Except for the temperature response of Caltha and Eriophyllum, response of the five species to the three environmental factors helped to explain their natural distribution.