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FT-Raman spectroscopy of the Christmas wreath lichen, Cryptothecia rubrocincta (Ehrenb.:Fr.) Thor

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2005

Howell G. M. EDWARDS ,
Luiz F. C. de OLIVEIRA  and
Mark R. D. SEAWARD
Howell G. M. EDWARDS
Affiliation:
Chemical and Forensic Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
Luiz F. C. de OLIVEIRA
Affiliation:
Nucleo de Espectroscopia e Estrutura Molecular, Departamento de Quimica, Instituto de Ciencias Exatas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitario, Juiz de Fora, MG 36036-330, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Mark R. D. SEAWARD
Affiliation:
Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK
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Abstract

FT-Raman spectra have been obtained from the highly pigmented lichen Cryptothecia rubrocincta from a Brazilian vestigial rainforest habitat. Spectral signatures of the two main lichen substances, chiodectonic acid and confluentic acid, were identified in adjacent zones of the thallus. Of the characteristic zonal colours displayed by the thallus, the outer red zone contained chiodectonic acid and no calcium oxalate, and graded into by a pink zone with calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite) in association with chiodectonic acid, to the inside of which is a concentric white zone containing calcium oxalate dihydrate (weddellite); however, chemically differentiated sites (elliptical brown flecks with a major axis of c. 15 μm) in both the pink and red zones contained chiodectonic acid and calcium oxalate monohydrate. The role of Raman spectroscopy in the spatial identification of lichen substances in the thallial structures is demonstrated.

Keywords

Brazilcalcium oxalatechiodectonic acidconfluentic acidCryptothecia rubrocinctaFT-Raman spectroscopylichen
Type
Research Article
Information
The Lichenologist , Volume 37 , Issue 2 , March 2005 , pp. 181 - 189
Copyright
© British Lichen Society 2005

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