LICHEN SUBSTANCES AND THEIR INTRASPECIFIC VARIABILITY WITHIN 11 UMBILICARIA SPECIES IN SPAIN

We document the occurrence of crustinic, hiascic, and ovoic acids in s everal Umbilicaria species in Spain. These substances were found in el even species in different proportions within the lichen thallus by com paring TLC and HPLC results. Crustinic acid was a major substance in U . cinereorufescens and in 46% of the specimens of U. crustulosa analyz ed, but was also present as a minor substance in 54% of U. crustulosa, in U. krempelhuberi, and in U. spodochroa. Hiascic acid was never a m ajor component, but was found as a minor compound in U. deusta, U. hav aasii, U. polyrrhiza, and U. torrefacta. It was also detected occasion ally in U. decussata, U. proboscidea, and U. vellea. Ovoic acid, when present, was never a major component, but was found as a minor compoun d in U. havaasii, U. proboscidea, and U. torrefacta, as well as in som e chemotypes of U. decussata and in some specimens of U. vellea. Chemi cal races were detected in U. crustulosa, U. decussata, U. spodochroa, and U. vellea.