SEED FATS OF ASTELIA AND COLLOSPERMUM FAMILY LILIACEAE

Abstract

The seed fats of thirteen species of Astelia and two of the closely related genus Collospermum have been examined. On the basis of their fatty acid composition they fall into two groups, one containing 12-30% γ-linolenic (6,9,12-octadecatrienoic) acid and the other containing no γ-linolenic acid. The latter group is distinguished from the New Zealand Agavaceae by the presence of traces of C20 and and C22 alkanoic, C16, C20, and C22 alkenoic, C20 alkadienoic and C18 alkatrienoic acids and from the New Zealand Juncaceae by the absence of C12, C14, C15, C17, C19, and C24 alkanoic and C17 and C24 alkenoic acids. The two groups based on chemical constituents do not coincide with the botanical classification suggested by Skottsberg4.