ALKALOIDS 1 73 



Certainly, the cytological and biochemical data considered separately 

 would not constitute strong evidence. "^ The conclusions of McFadden 

 are not in accord with the serological data provided by Hammond 

 (Chapter 5) who placed Hydrastis in the Ranunculaceae but closer to 

 Ranunculus than to Thalictrum. Finally, the six small-chromosome 

 genera assigned to the Ranunculaceae do not form bis-benzylisoquin- 

 olines which are typical of the Berberidaceae. Other biochemical evi- 

 dence cited by McFadden was relatively meager and inconclusive, but 

 it is quite possible that intensive biochemical studies would clarify 

 this interesting situation. 



The family Rutaceae (containing the orange) is the last to 

 be discussed in connection with the isoquinoline alkaloids. Hegnauer 

 (1958) noted that protoberherine, aporphine, protopine, and rare 

 chelidonine alkaloids were all present in Rutaceae as well as in 

 certain Ranalean families. He believes that the affinities of Rutaceae 

 and these families are much closer than most systematic treatments 

 imply. In Hegnauer's words: 



The exactness, not similarity, of the complex phenylisoquinoline 

 alkaloids in both groups appear so surprising and convincing that a 

 new investigation of the systematic position of the Rutaceae may be 

 urgent. 



In this connection it is interesting to note that Hallier presumably 

 derived the Rutaceae from "stocks ancestral to the Berberidaceae" 

 (Lawrence, 1951). 



Another alkaloid of the Rutaceae, rutaecarpine, is a complex, 

 indole-containing substance. Chemically related alkaloids are present 

 in the families Apocynaceae, Loganiaceae, and Rubiaceae. No sys- 

 tematic bridge between these families and the Rutaceae is necessarily 

 implied, but it is interesting that Hutchinson (1959) has proposed a 

 relationship between Rubiaceae and the families Apocynaceae and 

 Loganiaceae. 



Other indole-alkaloids of restricted systematic distribution 

 are those of the Amaryllidaceae. In this family over seventy alkaloids 

 are known. ^ While there are a number of rare alkaloids in this sub- 



^Kumazawa (1938) on morphological grounds provisionally included the genera 

 Hydrastis and Glaucidium in the Ranunculaceae as the sole members of the sub-family 

 Glaucidioideae; however, he retained Jeffersonia in the Berberidaceae as have nearly all 

 subsequent workers. 



5 To indicate the increased interest in phytochemical research, it seems worth 

 noting that only fifteen alkaloids were known in the Amaryllidaceae in 1954, the addi- 

 tional compounds having been acquired over a six-year period (Wildman, 1960). 



