kasviryhmien

Kasviryhmien is a term used in some botanically inclined discourses to refer to a broad category of plant-derived chemical groups. The term is not part of a formal, globally recognized taxonomy; its exact definition varies by author.

Etymology stems from Finnish kasvi "plant" and ryhmä "group," with the suffix -ien indicating a plural/genitive form, roughly translating to "of plant groups" or "plant-groupings." In scholarly contexts, the term is often used descriptively rather than as a fixed classification.

Proposed meaning: Kasviryhmien may denote clusters of secondary metabolites produced by plants that share a biosynthetic origin or a recurring structural motif, such as phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, or glycosides. In practice, researchers may organize kasviryhmien by biosynthetic pathways (polyketide-derived phenolics, terpenoid families) or by ecological function (defense compounds, attractants).

Relevance: The concept is used in chemotaxonomy, comparative phytochemistry, and ethnobotany to compare metabolic profiles across species or lineages. The term helps describe patterns rather than provide a fixed taxonomy, and its usage can differ among studies.

Examples: Kasviryhmien of the phenolic type include flavonoids and tannins; terpenoid kasviryhmien include monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes; alkaloid kasviryhmien include pyridine and terpene alkaloids.

See also: phytochemistry, secondary metabolites, chemotaxonomy.

Notes: Because kasviryhmien is not universally defined, readers should consult the specific text for the author's definition.