Comparative Analysis of Epicuticular Waxes from Some High Alpine Plant Species

Botanisches Institut der Universität zu Köln, Gyrhofstraße 15, D-5000 Köln 41 Z. Naturforsch. 40c, 599—605 (1985); received May 6, 1985 Epicuticular Waxes, Alpine Plants, Ecophysiology, Relation to Altitude, Ultrastructure Epicuticular waxes were extracted and analysed from leaves of 7 different high alpine plant species, with 3 species harvested at different altitudes: Salix herbacea (1950 m, 2825 m), Leucanthemopsis alpinum (1950 m, 3050 m), Loiseleuria procum bens (1950 m, 2660 m), Dryas octopetala (2400 m), Ranunculus glacialis (2800 m), Soldanella pusilla (2640 m), Oxyria digyna (2640m). Two main fractions obtained from waxes were investigated: hydrocarbons and wax-esters, -aldehydes plus -acetates. Individual wax compounds accumulated differently in the respective plant species. The gross composition did not indicate a strict altitude-dependent change in wax composition, though some single components like the C-29/C-31 alkanes (Loiseleuria) or the C-22/ C-26 fatty acid methyl esters in Salix, changed significantly with increasing elevation of plant habitat. The evergreen leaves of D ryas and of Loiseleuria exhibited exceptionally high amounts of triterpenol esters. The results indicate that the formation of epicuticular wax layers is not based on a special adaptation to altitude or high mountain habitats in general.