Abstract:

The infrared spectroscopic study of leaves of nine sections, 43 species, one subspecies and one variety in Hypericum L. and two species in Triadenum Raf. were conducted directly and rapidly with FTIR and OMNI-sampler accessory. The results showed that the infrared spectra of Hypericum and Triadenum were fingerprint-like patterns which were highly typical for different taxa. Significant differences in the infrared spectra were found between these two genera and among the nine sections of Hypericum. And certain differences exist in the spectra among species in the same section of Hypericum or in the Triadenum. Furthermore, no significant difference was found in the infrared spectral patterns in the leaves at various developmental stages and in leaves of the same species collected from different geographic regions, although occasionally geographic difference did exist in the same species. The results indicated that the infrared spectra of leaves are of taxonomic value at the level of species and sections in these two genera, and this technique can be widely used for identification and classification of other taxa when standard spectra are available.

Key words: Hypericum, Triadenum, leaf, infrared spectra figures, classification, identification