Chemistry and chorology of the Cladonia chlorophaea-pyxidata complex (Lichenes, Cladoniaceae) in Italy

Abstract

Summary 252 samples of lichens of the Cladonia chlorophaea—pyxidata complex collected in Italy were analyzed by thin layer chromatography. Six chemospecies occur in Italy; they are: Cladonia chlorophaea s.str. (80.9% of the samples), throughout the Peninsula, Cladonia grayi (4.0%) restricted to mountain areas on acid substrate in the North, Cladonia merochlorophaea (5.5%) and Cladonia cryptochlorophaea (2.4%), most frequent in Central Italy, at the western side of the peninsula, Cladonia conoidea (5.5%) most frequent in Central and Southern Italy, in lowlands and within mediterranean vegetation, Cladonia perlomera (1.6%), very rare throughout the country. Five of the six chemospecies are new to Italy; one (C. perlomera) is new to Europe. The higher frequency of C. chlorophaea s.str. is probably due to the fact that this is the only chemospecies within the complex that grows on limestone soils.