Further search for cytotoxic compounds contained in the bulbs of Galtonia candicans (Liliaceae) led to the isolation of four potent cytotoxic cholestane glycosides (1-4) based upon 3beta,16beta,17alpha-trihydroxycholest-5-en-22-one, three of which (2-4) have not been reported previously. A new cholestane bisdesmoside (5) and a new rearranged cholestane glycoside (6) were also isolated. The stru...

Natural Products, Saponins, Molecular W eight Determ ination, Sugar Sequence, Purity Control The application of field desorption and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry for molecular weight determination and structural elucidation o f spirostanol and furostanol saponins isolated from Paris Polyphylla Sm. (Liliaceae) is reported. The capacity and limitations o f these methods for sugar seque...

Although the number of protein-coding genes is not highly variable between plant taxa, the DNA content in their genomes is highly variable, by as much as 2,056-fold from a 1C amount of 0.0648 pg to 132.5 pg. The mean 1C-value in plants is 2.4 pg, and genome size expansion/contraction is lineage-specific in plant taxonomy. Transposable element fractions in plant genomes are also variable, as low...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Tricyrtis is a genus of monocots with attractive and sophisticated flower shapes and colours, endemic to north-east Asia. There are 18 known species. The highly restricted geographical distribution of the genus is of great interest in terms of both abiotic (continental drift) and biotic (long-distance dispersal) impacts on monocot plant speciation events and their timing, an...

Although New Zealand has a species-poor mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) fauna with only 12 endemic and four exotic species (Derraik 2004), little information is available on their bionomics, particularly for indigenous species. One poorly known species is the endemic Culex (Culex) asteliae Belkin. Adults of this species have recently been collected in nature for the first time, and all specimens ...