Leontodon

Leontodon
Leontodon hispidus L.
Seed-head of Leontodon hispidus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Cichorioideae
Tribe: Cichorieae
Subtribe: Hypochaeridinae
Genus: Leontodon
L.
Synonyms
List
  • Antodon Neck.
  • Apargia Scop.
  • Asterothrix Cass.
  • Bohadschia F.W.Schmidt
  • Colobium Roth
  • Dens-leonis Ség.
  • Microderis DC.
  • Plancia Neck.
  • Streckera Sch.Bip.
  • Thrincia Roth.
  • Thrixa Dulac
  • Virea Adans.

Leontodon is a genus of plants in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae, commonly known as hawkbits.

Their English name derives from the mediaeval belief that hawks ate the plant to improve their eyesight. Although originally only native to Eurasia and North Africa, some species have since become established in other countries, including the United States and New Zealand.

Recent research has shown that the genus Leontodon in the traditional delimitation is polyphyletic. Therefore, the former Leontodon subgenus Oporinia was raised to generic level. According to the nomenclatural rules the name Scorzoneroides has priority at generic level and therefore, the members of Leontodon subgenus Oporinia were transferred to the re-erected genus Scorzoneroides.

Ecology

Seeds of Leontodon species are an important food source for certain bird species.

Uses

In Crete, the roots of the species Leontodon tuberosus are eaten raw and its leaves are eaten steamed.

Secondary metabolites

The genus Leontodon s.str. (i.e. excluding the members of the resurrected genus Scorzoneroides) is a rich source of hypocretenolides, unique guaiane type sesquiterpene lactones with a 12,5-lactone ring instead of the usual 12,6 lactone ring.

Phenolics found in Leontodon species include luteolin type flavonoids and caffeoyl quinic acid derivatives such as chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Moreover, Leontodon species contain the caffeoyl tartaric acid derivatives caffeoyl tartaric acid and cichoric acid.

Species

The following species are recognised in the genus Leontodon:


Further reading

References

  1. 1 2 "Leontodon L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
  2. ↑ "52. Leontodon Linnaeus", Flora of North America
  3. ↑ "LEONTODON L.", Flora of New Zealand
  4. ↑ Rosabelle Samuel; Walter Gutermann; Tod F. Stuessy; Claudete F. Ruas; Hans-Walter Lack; Karin Tremetsberger; Salvador Talavera; Barbara Hermanowski; Friedrich Ehrendorfer (2006), "Molecular phylogenetics reveals Leontodon (Asteraceae, Lactuceae) to be diphyletic", American Journal of Botany, 93 (8): 1193–1205, doi:10.3732/ajb.93.8.1193, PMID 21642184
  5. ↑ Greuter, W.; Gutermann, W. & Talavera, S. (2006), "A preliminary conspectus of Scorzoneroides (Compositae, Cichorieae) with validation of the required new names" (PDF), Willdenowia, 36 (2): 689–692, doi:10.3372/wi.36.36204, ISSN 0511-9618, S2CID 85657923, archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-06
  6. ↑ D. L. Buckingham; W. J. Peach (2005). "The influence of livestock management on habitat quality for farmland birds". Animal Science. 81 (2): 199–203. doi:10.1079/asc50700199. Archived from the original on 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2012-11-26.
  7. ↑ Kleonikos G. Stavridakis; Κλεόνικος Γ. Σταυριδάκης (2006). Wild edible plants of Crete - Η Άγρια βρώσιμη χλωρίδα της Κρήτης. Rethymnon Crete. ISBN 960-631-179-1.
  8. ↑ Zidorn, C. (2008). "Sesquiterpene lactones and their precursors as chemosystematic markers in the tribe Cichorieae of the Asteraceae". Phytochemistry. 69 (12): 2270–2296. Bibcode:2008PChem..69.2270Z. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2008.06.013. ISSN 0031-9422. PMID 18715600.
  9. ↑ Zidorn, C.; Stuppner, H. (2001). "Evaluation of chemosystematic characters in the genus Leontodon". Taxon. 50: 115–133. doi:10.2307/1224515. ISSN 0040-0262. JSTOR 1224515.
  10. ↑ Sareedenchai, V.; Zidorn, C. (2010). "Flavonoids as chemosystematic markers in the tribe Cichorieae of the Asteraceae". Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 38 (5): 935–957. Bibcode:2010BioSE..38..935S. doi:10.1016/j.bse.2009.09.006. ISSN 0305-1978.