NOTES ON THE CHEMICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL VARIATION OF THE LICHEN OPHIOPARMA-VENTOSA IN EAST FENNOSCANDIA

The chemical compounds in 275 specimens of Ophioparma ventosa s. lat. from East Fennoscandia were analysed, resulting in three major chemoty pes. They are: (I) thamnolic-divaricatic-usnic acid, (II) hypothamnoli c-divaricatic-usnic acid, and (III) divaricatic-usnic acid. Chemotypes I and II are characterised by long, multiseptate spores, whereas chem otype III occurs as two morphotypes: (A) with long, multiseptate spore s, and (B) with short, non-septate or 1-septate spores. The chemotypes with long, multiseptate spores represent the species O. ventosa (L.) Norman s. str., whereas O. lapponica (Rasanen) Hafellner & R. W. Roger s is the correct name for specimens of chemotype III-morphotype B. A t endency to a higher usnic acid-content and to more yellow thalli occur s especially in O. lapponica and in chemotypes II and III of O. ventos a growing in northernmost latitudes and at high altitudes. The distrib ution of O. lapponica and the chemotypes of O. ventosa in Finland is m apped.