The Geography of Phytochemical Races

2.2 Australia and New Zealand 23
(Myrtaceae), known locally as “kanuka.” Fifty-one specimens from New Zealand along
with six from Australia (and other species of Kunzea) were included in the study. Oils
from Australian and New Zealand specimens were quite similar with α-pinene as the
most prominent component in both, along with lower but similar levels of p-cymene
and 1,8-cineole. Although two chemotypes can be defi ned within this taxon, they occur
within populations and do not show the geographic patterning seen in manuka.
2.2.7 Chionochloa (Poaceae)
Chionochloa, known locally as “snow tussock,” consists of 22 species, 21 of which
are native to New Zealand. The remaining species occurs in southeastern Australia
and does not fi gure in the discussion. Studies of triterpene methyl ethers (TMEs)
have revealed the existence of different “chemodemes” (Connor and Purdie, 1976,
1981). In some instances, it was shown that TMEs were present in populations
of a given species in one part of its range but absent from others: arundoin [57]
(see Fig. 2.12 for structures 57–59) was identifi ed from plants collected at Harpers
Fig. 2.12 Compounds 57–59, triterpene methyl ethers (TMEs), from Chionochloa. Compounds
60–64, lichen-acid derivatives from European Ramalina siliquosa