Acroscyphus sphaerophoroides (lichenized Ascomycota, Caliciaceae) in Hengduanshan Mountains

The chemical variability of Acroscyphus sphaerophoroides, a lichenized Ascomycota commonly found in the Hengduanshan Mountains, has been investigated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC). Gyrophoric acid (GA) is shown to be the constant major component, together with skyrin, graciliformin and rugulosin. Two chemical races are recognized, which show some correlations with substrates. The obtained data indicated that the chemistry of A. sphaerophoroides distributed in Hengduanshan Mountains is different from that growing in the other areas of the world according to previous reports. Meanwhile, a detailed morphological study has also been carried out, and the taxonomy, distribution, as well as ecology of this species are discussed.