Amino Acids in Asclepias Nectar

Abstract

Thin Layer Chromatography in a three solvent system was used to determine the amino acid components in the nectar of three milkweed species. The amino acid complements differed in each species, indicating possible use as a chemosystematic character. The differences in the types of nectarivores or pollinators that visited each species. However, where floral color variations were observed in two of the species, no variation was seen in their respective amino acid complements.