The alkaloid content (colchicine, 2-demethydemecolcine, 3-demethyldemecolcine, N-formyl-N-deacetylcol-chicine, cornigerine, demecolcine) of corms, leaves and flowers of Merendera kurdica and of corms of M. manissadjianii and M. sobolifera was determined by HPLC. In addition to these compounds, all corms contained the flavone luteolin, and benzoic, 2-hydroxy-6-methoxybenzoic and vanillic acids. A new homoaporphine alkaloid baytopine was isolated from the leaves and flowers of M. kurdica. The UV and CD spectra of five homoaporphine alkaloids, baytopine, bechuanine, CC-24, kreysigine, and O-methylkreysigine, measured in ethanol and sodium ethoxide show marked differences which are discussed. © 1983.