Pinguisane-Type Sesquiterpenes from the South American Liverwort Porella recurva (Taylor) Kuhnemann
The chemical composition of a dichloromethane extract of the South American liverwort Porella recurva has been examined. Two new pinguisane-type norsesquiterpenoid natural products were isolated: 6,11-epoxy-15-nor-3,4-dioxo-5,10-pinguisadien-12-acetate and 6,11- epoxy-15-nor-4-oxo-5,10-pinguisadien-12-acetate. In addition two known pinguisane-type sesquiterpenes were also isolated: norpinguisone and norpinguisone methyl ester. All structures were elucidated by means of NMR spectroscopic techniques and mass spectrometry.
Chemical Constituents of the Bryophytes
In the twelve years since the first review article dealing with chemical constituents of the Hepaticae appeared in this series as Volume 42 (19), several short reviews concerned with chemical constituents of bryophytes have been published (22, 96, 144, 265, 271, 647, 649, 650). In 1988, a Symposium on Chemistry and Chemical Taxonomy of Bryophytes was organised on the behalf of the Phytochemical Society of Europe; the proceedings of this meeting appeared as a book entitled Bryophytes: Their Chemistry and Chemical Taxonomy (651). The symposium concerned itself with phytochemical, biochemical, botanical, chemotaxonomical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological and environmental aspects of bryophytes as well as with the synthesis of the terpenoids and aromatic compounds bryophytes elaborate. The physiological and biochemical aspects of bryophytes have also been described in a recent book Bryophytes Development: Physiology and Biochemistry (139).
Palaeocarpinus (Extinct Betulaceae) from Northwestern China: New Evidence for Paleocene Floristic Continuity between Asia, North America, and Europe
Spiny-bracted fruits of Palaeocarpinus Crane, a genus of Betulaceae previously known only from Europe and North America, have been discovered in the Paleocene of Altai, northwestern China. The fruits are found in association with abundant Corylus-like foliage and staminate catkins containing Corylus-like pollen. Because of problems distinguishing leaves of Corylus from those of extinct betulaceous genera, we place these leaves in the genus Corylites Gardner ex Seward & Holttum. The fruits, staminate catkins, pollen, and leaves from Altai were probably all produced by a single species. Palaeocarpinus orientalis is nearly identical in its morphology to Palaeocarpinus joffrensis from the Paleocene of North America except in the more rounded primary bracts of the associated staminate catkins. The species is less similar to Palaeocarpinus laciniata from the Paleocene of southern England.