The alkaloid composition of seeds from 10 different species and subspecies of the genus Adenocarpus was analysed by capillary GC and GC-MS. At least nine alkaloids couldbe identified. Four compounds have not been formerly reported for the genus Adenocarpus. Significant differences were found in the alkaloid pattern of flowers, seeds, leaves and twigs. Seeds accumulate simple pyrrolizidine alkaloids as major compounds, whereas leaves and twigs contain the bipiperidyl alkaloids cis- and rans- adenocarpine as predominant constituents. Flowers store high amounts of tyramine. The alkaloidal data support the idea of an affinity Adenocarpus with Laburnum and Cytisophyllum. © 1991.