Proposal for a standardized nomenclature and characterization of insoluble lichen pigments

A method for the characterization of insoluble lichen pigments is presented. The method relies on pH-dependent colour reactions before and after pretreatment with HNO3. Diagnostic reactions for 22 different pigments and a key for their identification are given. A standardized nomenclature and a procedure similar to the typification of species in systematic botany is proposed in order to avoid ambiguous naming. (C) 2000 The British Lichen society.