Abstract
The low molecular weight carbohydrate constituents of eight species of lichens (Cetraria islandica, Cladonia crispata, C. rangiferina, C. squamosa, Peltigera aphthosa, P. nigripunctata, Umbilicaria caroliniana, and Usnea rubescens) have been analysed as their acetyl, trifluoroacetyl, and trimethylsilyl derivatives by gas chromatography. Glycerol, erythritol, ribitol, arabinitol, mannitol, fructose, glucose, sucrose, and trehalose were detected commonly in these lichens. In addition, the occurrence of 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-D-mannitol in P. aphthosa and P. nigripunctata and of 2-O-β-D-galactofuranosyl-D-arabinitol (umbilicin) in C. islandica and U. caroliniana have been found.
