Fructose Oligosaccharides in Monocotyledons: A Possible Delimitation of the Order Uliales

Stems from 198 species representing 165 genera of 46 monocotyledonous families were examined for the presence of fructose oligosaccharides. Aside from occurring in the subfamily Festucoidese of the Poaceae, in Cyperaceae and in Zostera marina of the Zosteraceae, the sugars were found exclusively in some closely related liliaceous families. These are the Agavaceae, Alstromeriaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Cyanastraceae, Haemodoraceae, Iddaceae, Liliaceae, Ruscaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae. On the other hand, the fructosides were not detected in representatives of certain families whose placement in the order Liliales is controversial or dubious. These are the Dioscoreaceae, Philesiaceae, Philydreceae, Pontederiaceae, Smilacaceae, Stemonaceae, Taccaceae and Velloziaceae. These findings support the assertion of some systematists that these latter families should perhaps not be placed in the order.