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The Occurrence of Copper—norstictic Acid in Lichens from Cupriferous Substrata

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2007

O. W. Purvis ,
J. A. Elix ,
J. A. Broomheadj  and
G. C. Jones
O. W. Purvis
Affiliation:
Department of Botany, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 2AS, UK
J. A. Elix
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, The Faculties, Australian National University, GPO Box 4, Canberra 2601, Australia
J. A. Broomheadj
Affiliation:
Chemistry Department, The Faculties, Australian National University, GPO Box 4, Canberra 2601, Australia
G. C. Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Mineralogy, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
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Abstract

The localization of norstictic acid and copper in green, copper-rich specimens of Acarospora smaragdula and Lecidea lactea from cupriferous substrata was studied by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and electron probe microanalysis. Infrared absorption spectroscopy of lichen material and a synthetic Cu-norstictic acid complex, and the other studies, provide evidence that complexing of copper by norstictic acid occurs within the cortex of these lichens and leads to their unusual surface coloration. Preliminary observations suggest that copper may also form a complex with psoromic acid and colour lichen thalli green. There is a strong possibility that other metal-lichen acid complexes may occur.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Lichenologist , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , April 1987 , pp. 193 - 203
Copyright
Copyright © British Lichen Society 1987

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