PHYTOCHEMISTRY AND SYSTEMATICS OF THE EUPHORBIACEAE

Phytochemical data provide much useful information concerning relationships both within the Euphorbiaceae and between that family and putative relatives. Within the Euphorbiaceae, the presence of several groups of secondary metabolites support certain infrafamilial groupings, whereas data related to the biosynthesis and distribution of other secondary metabolites provide information concerning the relationship of the Euphorbiaceae to other families. Similarities in chemistry to both the Geraniales and Malvales are found, supporting the suggestion by Webster (1987) that the differences between the Dilliniidae and Rosidae may not be as great as previously thought, and that the Euphorbiaceae may have arisen from ancestors intermediate to those two groups.