Taxonomic Study On The Lichen Genus Ramalina In China

Ramalina is classified into Ramalinaceae under Lecanorales, Ascomycetes, Ascomycota, Fungi. The genus is characterized by fruticose thalli, usually having pale yellow-green flattened strap-like branches with small disk or cup-shaped apothecia, growing on trees and rocks in surburban, forest edges and coastal localities. Ramalina is worldwide and a large genus containing about 200 species, while in China about 37 ones.The studies on the lichen genus Ramalina are performed according to the morphological character, internal anatomy, chemical information and ecology on the basis of investigation from China. More than 1500 herbarium specimens from the Lichen Section of Mycological Herbarium, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (HMAS-L), the Lichen Section of Botanical Herbarium, Shandong Normal University (SDNU) and new collections recently have been studied and relabeled. Twenty-seven species are recognised for China, including seven species listed are new to China, R. anceps, R. chihuahuana, R. complanata, R. conduplicans, R. palmiformis, R. siliquosa and R. yasudea.The chemical constituents were identified by using thin layer chromatography and chemical spot test. Fifteen chemical substances are identified during the survey. They are classified into the following seven types: depsides, depsidones, usnic acids, triterpenoids, pulvinic acid derivatives, xanthones, and aliphatic acids and so on. The TLC characters of the substances are summaried and the key to substances is also provided.The key to species of the genus Ramalina in China is presented in the paper. Each species is described in detail on the basis of morphology, anatomy, chemistry and ecology. A short comment for each species is provided, including the discussion of distinguishing it from its similar species. The photos of all species to show their habits and the microscopic photos of some species to show their asci and ascospores are also given in this paper.