Ichthyothere
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Ichthyothere is a small genus of about 25 flowering plants, found in parts of South America (the Amazon) and Central America.
The name ichthyothere literally translates as fish poison. This plant's active constituent is a chemical called ichthyothereol, which is a polyacetylene compound so toxic to fish that they will jump out of the water if Ichthyothere terminalis leaves are used as bait.
Ichthyothereol
3-hydroxy-2-(trans-non-1-ene-3,5,7-triynyl)tetrahydropyran
This genus is characterized by the small capitulum with few (usually one or two) fertile ray florets. It lacks an expanded outer series of herbaceous involucral bracts or phyllaries. These tend to be much reduced.
Ichthyothere scandens and Ichthyothere garcia-barrigae, both found at elevations above 1,000m, belong to a unique subgenus within Ichthyothere. The other species are small herbs with an erect stem, showing tightly clustered or glomerulate groups of capitula. They occur below 1,000 m elevation.
Its taxonomic status has been reversed several times. It was classified in the subtribes Melampodiinae, Milleriinae and then in a group of unclassified taxa. Recent molecular phylogenetic research has now placed the genus Ichthyothere in the subtribe Espeletiinae. It may be a sister taxon to the Espeletia complex.
[edit] Species
- Ichthyothere agrestis
- Ichthyothere angustifolia
- Ichthyothere connata
- Ichthyothere cordata
- Ichthyothere cunabi
- Ichthyothere davidsei
- Ichthyothere dubia
- Ichthyothere elliptica
- Ichthyothere garcia-barrigae
- Ichthyothere grandifolia
- Ichthyothere granvillei
- Ichthyothere hirsuta
- Ichthyothere integrifolia
- Ichthyothere latifolia
- Ichthyothere linearis
- Ichthyothere macdanielii
- Ichthyothere matogrossensis
- Ichthyothere mollis'
- Ichthyothere ovata
- Ichthyothere palustris
- Ichthyothere pastazensis
- Ichthyothere perfoliata
- Ichthyothere peruviana
- Ichthyothere petiolata
- Ichthyothere pruinosa
- Ichthyothere rufa
- Ichthyothere scandens
- Ichthyothere suffruticosa'
- Ichthyothere terminalis
- Ichthyothere ternifolia
- Ichthyothere ulei
[edit] References
- Molecular phylogenetics of the Espeletia complex (Asteraceae)
- Robinson H., 1980 Studies in the Heliantheae (Asteraceae). XXVI. New species of Ichthyothere. Phytologia 47: 128-128
