GRAPHIS SCNIPTA - Universitetet i Oslo

94 Roland Slqtin
GRAPHTS SCRTPTA 5 (1ee3)
Trosa, L925, Malme (S); Sorunda, Gr6nso,
Malus,1945, Johansson (S); Toro, Herrhamra,
Acer, 1955, Hasselrot (S); Greidinge, Tili"a,
Ulmus, L960, Hasselrot (S). Uppland: Stockholm,
1856, Thedenius (UPS); Stockholm,
Viirmd6n, l,ofbetgl, LW7, Malme (S); Stockholm,
Ljuster6, Sirs6, t916, Hiilphers (S);
Stockholm, Runmar6, 1935, Lynge (O);
Alvkarleby, Marma, Quercus, 1942, Ahlner
(S); Uiby, Forsbacka, Sorbus, L945, Hasselrot
(S); Djur6, Runmar6, L945, Rydberg (S);
Malsta, Umus and Acer platanoides, 1961,
Nordin (UPS); Singo, Fraxinus, 196L, Nordin
(UPS). Gotland.' Endre, Fraxinus excelsior,
1961,, Nordin (UPS); FArO, Gotska Sand6n,
Beckmor, 1961, Tibell (UPS); FirO, Gotska
Sand6n, Beckrevskullen, Populus tremula,
L964, Tibell (UPS). Giistrikland: Gtivle,
Angesb€rg, Fraxinus excelsior, L945, Gelting
(C). Hiilsingland: Gnarp, Picea abies, 1951,
Persson (S). Norruay. Vestfold: [-arvik,
Malmon, 19L9, Lynge (O).
Ecologr
Ramalina eleganr seems to have a wide ecological
range. In northern Europe it has a
more or less oceanic and lowland distribution.
Most of the specimens grow on old deciduous
trees in cemeteries or around manors. In central
and southern Europe, the species has been
found in humid mountain forests (Motyka
1960, Poelt L969). According to Arroyo (1991
p. 32L) R elegans prefers altitudes betrpeen
650 and 1700 m in Spain.
Ramalina elegans is an exclusively epiphytic
lichen. It apparently tolerates a wide
range of pH values of its substrate. In Sweden,
according to the specimen labels, it grows on
the bark of Acer platanoid,es, Fraxinus excelsior,
Malus sp., Quercus robur, Picea abies,
Populus tremula, Sorbus aucupari.a., Tilia sp.
and Ulmus sp. In addition, R elegans grows on
Salix caprea in some other localities around
the Baltic (Sairanen 1981 p. 40). Motyka
(1960) mentions Abies sp., Alnus incana,
Fagus sylvatica and Salix spp. as substrates for
the lichen in central and southern Europe.
Arroyo (199L p. 32L) has found R elegans
growing on Quercus faginea, Q. ileX Q. rotundrfot
o, Q. rubra, Pinus sylvestris and Populus
nigra in Spain.
Chemistry
Thin-layer chromatographic studies were carried
out for 23 specimens collected in Sweden
and Nonvay. The major components were
homosekikaic and sekikaic acids. This agrees
well with the results of Sairanen (1981 p. 36)
for specimens from Finland, and with the
findings of Arroyo & Manrique (1989), Serifra
& Manrique (1989) (called Ramalina sp.) and
Arroyo et al. (1992) for specimens from Spain.
The major components of. Ramalina fastigiata
are substances of the evernic acid complex
(Krog & James L977, Sairanen 1981 p.
45).
Discussion
According to Poelt (L969 p. 561) R elegares is
a rare species. This fact, together with its
resemblance to R fastigiata, are the most
probable reasons why this lichen has been
overlooked almost everywhere. Among the
specimens from Sweden and Nonvay, all but
one were determined as R fastigiafa. One was
determined R sinensis, which in some cases
may resemble R elegans. In the days when
Acharius determined his specimen mentioned
above, and when Baglietto & Carestia (1880)
described their specimen as a variety of R
calicaris, almost nothing was known about
lichen chemistry. It is therefore somewhat surprising
that they all considered the specimens
as belonging to R calicaris, rather than to R
fastigiata.
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to Prof. Teuvo Ahti, Helsinki,
for reading the manuscript and giving constructive
criticism, and to Dr. Irwin M. Brodo,
Ottawa, for checking the language.
References
Arroyo Cabeza, R. l99l: El gdnero Ramalina
Ach. en la Pininsula lbdica: quimica,