Presents for the first time the efficacy of flavonoids in a major family of flowering plantsInterpretative synthesis of more than 2500 published reports, in comparison with new phylogenetic studies based on morphology and DNA dataIntroductory chapters on basic aspects of flavonoid structure, biosynthesis, and function, and on classification, evolution and biogeography of Asteraceae

Introduction to the Sunflower Family: Biology and Distribution; Classification, Phylogeny and Biogeography.- Introduction to the Flavonoids: The Use of Flavonoids as Taxonomic Markers; Structural Variation of the Flavonoids of Asteraceae; Biosynthesis of Flavonoids; Biological Functions of Flavonoids.- Flavonoid Data: Flavonoids of Anthemideae; Flavonoids of Astereae; Flavonoids of Calenduleae and Cardueae; Flavonoids of Eupatorieae; Flavonoids of Heliantheae s.1; Flavonoids of Inuleae s.1; Flavonoids of Lactuceae; Flavonoids of Mutisieae and Barnadesioideae; Flavonoids of Senecioneae; Flavonoids of Tageteae; Flavonoids of Vernonieae and Liabeae.- Efficacy of Flavonoids at Different Taxonomic Levels: Flavonoids at the Subfamilial Level; Flavonoids at the Tribal Level; Flavonoids at the Subtribal Level; Flavonoids at the Generic Level; Flavonoids at the Specific Level; Flavonoids at Infraspecific Levels.- Flavonoids as Indicators of the Evolutionary Process: Flavonoids and Populational Variation; Flavonoids and Hybridization and Introgression.- Flavonoids and Phylogeny: Flavonoid Relationships with other Families; Evolution of the Flavonoid System in Asteraceae.- Addendum.- References.- Common Names of Flavonoids Used in This Book and Their Equivalents.- Chemical Index.- Subject Index.- Taxon Index