Chemotaxonomic review of the genus Papaver

In plants of particular sections of the genus Papaver L., the composition of alkaloid spectra was studied and results in the form of phytochemical characteristics of sections and chemotaxonomic evaluation w ere obtained. The sections are characterized by the presence of typical alkaloid groups, or of particular alkaloids and by chromosome numbers. Important findings of alkaloids in particular species are also presented, especially with respect to chemotaxonomic relations within the scope of each section, as well as between different sections. The study is based on generally valid taxonomic treatment of the genus. It represents an overall phytochemical evaluation with conclusions for the systematics based on the isolation and identification of alkaloids present in a ll species, which are chemotaxonomically significant and specific for the section of the genus Papaver L. and certain species.