Leuckert, C./ Wirth, V./ Kümmerling, H./ Heklau, M. 2002: Chemische Flechtenanalysen XIII. Lepraria eburnea. [Chemical lichen analyses XIII. Lepraria eburnea]. - Herzogia15: 19-25. [RLL Suppl.] Keywords: LICHENS/ LEPRARIA/ CHEMOTAXONOMY
Abstract: Three chemotypes are known for Lepraria eburnea J.R.Laundon: (1): alectorialic acid and protocetraric acid; (2) alectorialic acid and psoromic acid; and (3) alectorialic acid (formerly referred to "L. frigida"). Only chemotypes (1) and (3) were represented in the present study. Most specimens studies are from Central Europe and belong to chemotype (1); the only Australian specimen studied also belongs here. Chemotype (3) is represented by a few collections from the U.S.A., Greenland, Svalbard and Austria. Chemical analyses were performed with thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry. In both chemotypes, alectorialic acid was found to be accompanied by variable amounts of barbatolic acid (previously unknown in chemotype 3), 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methylphthalide (± trace) and 5,7-dihydroxy-6-formylphthalide (± trace, tentative identification only). The concentration of protocetraric acid in chemotype (1) is variable. The ecology of L. eburnea is also described.