Studies related to naturally occurring acetylene compounds. XXXV. Investigation of Erigeron spp. from the Australian mountains and Tasmania

Two Australian members of the genus Erigeron L. (Compositae, tribe Astereae) have been investigated with particular regard to their content of acetylenic compounds. E. conyzoides F. Muell. contained the methyl esters (I) and (II) of acetylenic carboxylic acids and their corresponding lactones (III) and (IV) and in this resemble the numerous Erigeron spp. of the northern hemisphere investigated earlier. Of the collective species E. pappochroma Labill. three Tasmanian and two Snowy Mountain collections were investigated. None of them contained the acetylenic compounds characteristic of typical Erigeron. Three of these collections contained some simple acetylenic alcohols, (V)-(IX); some of these are characteristic compounds of other genera of the tribus Astereae. In two collections acetylenic compounds were seemingly absent; but dill apiol (XI) was found in appreciable amounts.