title: Black flower coloration in wild Lisianthius nigrescens: its chemistry and ecological consequences.
abstract: The major pigments responsible for the flower color within the black flowered Gentianaceae, Lisianthius nigrescens, were characterized by HPLC and chemical analyses HPLC analysis showed one major and one minor anthocyanin and 3 major and 3 minor flavone glycosides. The anthocyanins [delphinidin-3-O-rhamnol(1-6)galactoside and its 5-O-glucoside] comprised an extraordinary 24% of the dry weight of wild collected L. nigrescens corallas, and were accompanied in a 1:1 ratio by a range of apigenin and luteolin 8-C-glucosides and their 7-O-methyl ethers. The high levels of anthocyanins and flavones (and their co-pigmentation) is thought to account for the almost complete absorption of both UV and visible wavebands observed by reflectance photography.
authors.affiliation: New Zealand Institute for Industrial Research and Development, P.O. Box 31310, Lower Hutt, New Zealand. k.markham@irl.cri.nz
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Markha
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bloor
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shemluck
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kevan
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michener
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003116:Color; D017753:Ecosystem; D047309:Flavones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D029965:Gentianaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011058:Pollen / Q000502:physiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D047309:Flavones; D006027:Glycosides; D010860:Pigments, Biological