A Monograph of the Lichen Genus Parmelina Hale - Smithsonian ...

10 S\IITHSONIAS CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY
acid in P. metarevoluta. All of these species, ex-
cepting P. versiformis, are distributed in the Old
World following a pattern seen in Bulbothrix
(Hale, 1976b).
Stictic acid has been discovered in only one spe-
cies, P. mnelleri, where it is accompanied by con-
stictic acid and two unknown compounds falling
between stictic and constictic acids in benezene-
dioxane.
TERPENEL-A closely related series of triterpenes
with a liopane skeleton have been described for
species in section Myelochroa. Their structures have
been determined by Yosioka and his group in Ja-
pan using nuclear magnetic resonance (NhIR)
spectra, mass spectrometry, etc. The tliin-layer
chromatography is not yet standardized or well un-
derstood, and I have not tried to identify individual
spots. Typical profiles for the terpene-containing
species of Parmelina are illustrated in Figure 7.
Leucotylic acid, a colorless compound closely
related to both zeorin and leucotylin, was first elu-
cidated by Yosioka (1966). It was isolated from Pa?.-
melina leucotyliza, although my results indicate that
leucotylin is, in fact, the main component of this
species. I suspect that their material included a
mixture of P. crassata, which does contain leuco-
tylic acid. The species of Pnrmelina which contain
leucotylic acid (or at least have the same terpenic
profile as P. airrulentn, as illustrated in Figure 7)
are P. aurzilenta, P. degelii, P. il-rugans, and P.
rhytidodes.
Leucotylin, the progenitor of leucotylic acid, is
the main terpene component in P. amagiensis, P.
crassata, P. denegans, P. entotheiochroa, P. galbina,
P. hayachinensis, P. indica, P. leucotyliza, P. meta-
revoluta, P. obsessa, P. perisidians, P. subaurulenta,
and P. xantholepis. It forms a low major spot in
benzene-dioxane, but I have generally identified it
as a profile of several terpene spots as illustrated in
Figure 7.
Yosioka (Yosioka and Nakanislii, 1963; Yosioka
and Nakanishi, 1966) has isolated at least five other
compounds related to leucotylin in “Parmelia ento-
theiochroa.” I presume that at least some of these
make up the numerous spots resolved in hexane-
ether (see Figure 7), but no attempt has been made
to identify any of them on the plates. There seems
to be great variation in the intensity of the spots,
reflecting different concentrations in the thallus. It
remains to be seen whether this variation has any
taxonomic value.
Zeorin is a well known lichen substance. The
stereochemistry of its hopane skeleton was only recently
studied by Yosioka et al. (1968b). It occurs in
all species in section 1\4pelochroa and has been reported
in Acroscyplirrs, Cladonin spp., Hppotrachpa
majoris (Vainio) Hale, Lecanom, Sephroma,
Peliigera, and the Physciaceae. It may be identified
as the highest blue spot on the chromatographic
plates in Iiotli solvent systems (Figure 7).
Prc~iE.\’Ts.-.\Iedullary pigments are especially
characteristic of species in section hfyelochroa. The
chromatography of these is extremely difficult and
~is~iallp unsuccessful. There is considerable streaking
and individual components cannot be distinguished.
Secalonic acid X was first ideniifietl by Yosioka
et al. (1968a:2090), who established its identity with
entothein. It also occurs in ergot (Shibata et al.,
1964). Yosioka found secalonic acid A in Parmelina
nii~rilcntm, P. enfotheiochroa, P. pel-isiclians, and
P. subauixlenta, and I presume it is the major
pigment in all species of section ilfpelochroa with
a yellowish orange medulla, as well as in P. immiscens
and P. lintlmanii, both lacking terpenes. Unidentified
reddish pigments accompany secalonic
acid 4 in the lower medullary layer of P. amagien-
,pis and P. dcnegans.
Phytogeography and Speciation
Pawnelinti occurs primarily on trees in secondary
forests in lemperate zones and at higher elevations
in the tropics. A number of the commoner species
may also occur on rocks. There are, however, only
four oliligately saxicolous species, P. enownis, P.
indica, P. obsessa, and P. usambaiensi.r. The Pnr-
melina floras of various geopolitical units are
enumerated below. It is altogether obvious that
many countries are underrepresented because they
have not been visited by lichen collectors.
XORTH AMERIC.~
United States: P. antillensis, P. aurulenta, P. dissecta, P.
galbi17n, P. hoi 1 escciis, P. ~ne/ar~~volii/a, P. obsessa, and P.
sfiu in osa.
MEXICO ALD C~NTRAL AMERIC~
Mexico: P. antillensis, P. aurulenta, P. dissecta, P. hor-