GRAPHIS SCNIPTA - Universitetet i Oslo

90 Henrik Skult
GRAPHTS SCRTPTA s (1993)
methylstenosporic acid). Perlatolic acid is
sometimes an accessory compound.
Strain 2. Corresponds to the race 2 by
Culberson et al. (L977) and "P. pulla tipo 1" by
Manrique (1989): Divaricatic acid (4-5),
stenosporic acid (Llt traces), accessory gyrophoric
acid (2-41-), traces of the unknown
TE-6 (rarely) and two not exactly determined
compounds, probably 4-O-demethyldivaricatic
and oxostenosporic acids.
Strain 3. Corresponds to the chemistry in
P. delisei, presented by Esslinger (1977), with
complementary data by Culberson et al. (1977)
and Manrique (1989). Constant compounds
are glomelliferic acid (4-5), glomellic acid (3-
5) and perlatolic acid (2-5), accessory gyrophoric
acid (3-41-). Usually several other
compounds occur in small quantities; for
instance in a bidirectional TLC analysis (C x
B) were found besides the first named constant
compounds: Anziaic acid (2), 4-O-methylolivetoric
acid (2), loxodellic (isoloxodellic?)
acid (1), olivetoric acid (1), probably 4-Omethylglomelliferic
acid (2) and traces of three
unknown substances (determined by means of
data given by Culberson & Johnson 1976).
Discussion
These studies, mainly performed on Finnish
material, show a high degree of similarity with
earlier results. In chemical sense the strains 1
and 2 are most closely related, but also strain 3
contains the same category (chemosyndrome)
of compounds. This is supported by Manrique
(1989 p.254, figure 2): the quantitative HPLC
chromatograms show peaks (low) of divaricatic
and stenosporic acids also for P. delisei (my
strain 3), and peaks of gyrophoric and lecanoric
acids for all three strains.
In extreme cases "typical delisei" can be
identified with help of morphological characters,
especially "yellowish tendency" and
"maculate upper surface" of the thallus, but as
a rule no clear morphological differences exist
between "pulla" and "delisei" specimens.
Already Esslinger (1977 p. 108) stated:
"Overlap in morphological variation is thus
much greater between P. pulla and P. delisei,
and in fact is virtually complete".
The ecological requirements are probably
similar for these tara. Representatives for P.
pulla (strain 1) and P. delisei (strain 3) are for
instance growing side by side on maritime cliffs
in the Finnish archipelago.
The geographical distribution in Finland is
presented in Figure 1. These ta(a are mainly
distributed in the southwestern parts of the
country, with some scattered sites along the
western coast. Strain 2 is very rare, according
to this herbarium material. The total distribution
area is rather discontinuous, indicating
the absence of a planned collecting strategy.
The herbarium material has actually been collected
during a long period of time, by several
persons. On the mainland and in the SW archipelago
of Finland the strains L and 3 are
well represented, but along the west coast the
strain 3 (delisef) is possibly more frequent.
Taking into consideration the hitherto
known chemical, morphological and environmental
data I have the impression that maintaining
two tana at species level is untenable.
In my opinion the three major chemical strains
represent a single species. On chemical
grounds and with regard to the existence of
subtle morphological differences I propose that
P. delisei should be recognized as a variety of
Parmelia pulla, i.e. P. pulla var. delisei (D"by)
Nyl.
Acknowledgements
I wish to thank Prof. Teuvo Ahti for valuable
discussions and comments on the manuscript.
Thanks are due to the staff members of the
herbaria which generously arranged loans of
lichen material.
Refertnces
Clauzade, G. & Rorx, C. 1986: Likenoj de
Okcidenta Efiropo. Illustrita determinlibro.
Bulletin de la Sociitd Botanique du Centre-Quest
Nouvelle sdric Numdro
Spdcial: 7-1985. "Le Clos de la Lande".
S aint - S ulpic e - de - Roy an.