# John Alan Elix

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Organic chemist, lichenologist

John Alan Elix Born 1941 Awards Acharius Medal (2004) Nancy T. Burbidge Medal (2015) Academic career Fields Organic chemistry lichenology taxonomy, plant physiology Institutions Australian National University (1967–) Doctoral students Simone Henrica J.J. Louwhoff Author abbrev. (botany) Elix

[Scholia](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Wikidata:Scholia) has a profile for [**John Alan Elix (Q21339171)**](https://iw.toolforge.org/scholia/Q21339171).

**John Alan (Jack) Elix** (born 1941)[1] emeritus professor in chemistry at the [Australian National University](/source/Australian_National_University),[2][3] is an organic chemist who has contributed in many fields: [lichenology](/source/Lichenology), lichen [chemotaxonomy](/source/Chemotaxonomy), plant physiology[2] and biodiversity and natural product chemistry.[3] He has authored 2282 species names,[4] and 67 genera[5] in the field of [mycology](/source/Mycology). Elix edited the [exsiccata](/source/Exsiccata) series *Lichenes Australasici exsiccati.*[6]

The standard [author abbreviation](/source/List_of_botanists_by_author_abbreviation_(A)) Elix is used to indicate this person as the author when [citing](/source/Author_citation_(botany)) a [botanical name](/source/Botanical_name).[7]

## Education

His first degree, B.Sc., and his Ph.D. were both in organic chemistry from the [University of Adelaide](/source/University_of_Adelaide). This was followed by post-doctoral years at the [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge) and then a D.Sc. in natural products chemistry from the [Australian National University](/source/Australian_National_University).[8]

## Career

Elix spent a post doctoral year in 1966 at Cambridge, returning to Australia in 1967 to a lectureship in chemistry at the [ANU](/source/Australian_National_University).[1] He retired as professor of chemistry in 2002,[1] becoming professor emeritus.[3]

By 1975 he had already published several papers on the organic chemistry of lichens,[9][10][11] and ultimately leading to work on the evolution, taxonomy and phylogeny of lichens.[12][13][14] For his work on lichens, Elix was awarded the [Acharius Medal](/source/Acharius_Medal) in 2004 and the [Nancy T Burbidge Medal](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nancy_T_Burbidge_Medal&action=edit&redlink=1) in 2015.[1] He is a prolific author (or coauthor) of new fungal and lichen species, having [formally described](/source/Species_description) about 1147 as of December 2017.[15]

He was honoured in 1997, when lichenologist [Helge Thorsten Lumbsch](/source/Helge_Thorsten_Lumbsch) published *[Elixiaceae](/source/Elixiaceae)* which is a [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) of [fungi](/source/Fungi) in the order [Umbilicariales](/source/Umbilicariales). It contains two genera, *[Meridianelia](/source/Meridianelia)*, and the [type genus](/source/Type_genus), *[Elixia](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elixia_(fungus)&action=edit&redlink=1)*, which is named after John Alan Elix.[16]

He was also honoured again in 2004, with *[Melanelixia](/source/Melanelixia)*, which is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [foliose lichens](/source/Foliose_lichen) in the family [Parmeliaceae](/source/Parmeliaceae),[17] and in 2016 with *[Astrothelium elixii](/source/Astrothelium_elixii)*, a rare [bark-dwelling](/source/Corticolous_lichen) Bolivian lichen.[18]

## Selected publications

- Elix, John A; Ernst-Russell, Karin D (1993), [*A catalogue of standardized thin layer chromatographic data and biosynthetic relationships for lichen substances*](https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/23122500), Australian National University

### See also

- [Category:Taxa named by John Alan Elix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Taxa_named_by_John_Alan_Elix)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_1-3) Cohn, Helen (2017). ["Elix, John Alan (Jack) - Biographical entry - Encyclopedia of Australian Science"](https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P005725b.htm). *www.eoas.info*. Retrieved 11 December 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-prof_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-prof_2-1) ["Professor John Elix"](https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/elix-ja). *researchers.anu.edu.au*. Retrieved 11 December 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rgate_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rgate_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-rgate_3-2) ["John ELIX | Emeritus Professor | DSc | Australian National University, Canberra | ANU | Research School of Chemistry (RSC)"](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Elix). *ResearchGate*. Retrieved 31 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Mycobank:Advanced search (author contains Elix & rank=sp.)"](https://www.mycobank.org). *Mycobank*. Retrieved 12 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Using an advanced search (author name contains "Elix" AND rank=genus)"](https://www.mycobank.org). *www.mycobank.org*. Retrieved 10 December 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Lichenes Australasici exsiccati: IndExs ExsiccataID=828430592"](https://www.botanischestaatssammlung.de/DatabaseClients/IndExs/Exsiccatae_IndExs_Details.jsp?ExsiccataID=828430592). *IndExs – Index of Exsiccatae*. Botanische Staatssammlung München. Retrieved 27 July 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [International Plant Names Index](/source/International_Plant_Names_Index). [*Elix*](https://www.ipni.org/search?q=author%20std%3AElix).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Nash, T.H. ["IAL - Acharius Medallists: Jack Elix"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070311001242/http://www.lichenology.org/Awards/Acharius_Elix.html). *www.lichenology.org*. Archived from [the original](http://www.lichenology.org/Awards/Acharius_Elix.html) on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 12 January 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** John A. Elix (1975). ["2'-O-Methylphysodic acid and hydroxyphysodic acid: two new depsidones from the lichen Hypogymnia billardieri"](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Elix/publication/263020117_2%27-O-Methylphysodic_acid_and_hydroxyphysodic_acid_two_new_depsidones_from_the_lichen_Hypogymnia_billardieri/links/5ccd77d4299bf14d957682df/2-O-Methylphysodic-acid-and-hydroxyphysodic-acid-two-new-depsidones-from-the-lichen-Hypogymnia-billardieri.pdf) (PDF). *[Australian Journal of Chemistry](/source/Australian_Journal_of_Chemistry)*. **28** (4): 849–858. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0004-9425](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0004-9425). [Wikidata](/source/WDQ_(identifier)) [Q104151554](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104151554).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** JA Elix; U Engkaninan (1975). "The structure of galbinic acid. A depsidone from the lichen Usnea undulata". *[Australian Journal of Chemistry](/source/Australian_Journal_of_Chemistry)*. **28** (8): 1793–1797. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1071/CH9751793](https://doi.org/10.1071%2FCH9751793). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0004-9425](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0004-9425). [Wikidata](/source/WDQ_(identifier)) [Q78432536](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q78432536).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** John A. Elix; David A. Jackman; Melvin V. Sargent (1974). ["Structure of the lichen depsidone pannarin"](https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/1974/c3/c39740000892/unauth#!divAbstract). *Journal of the Chemical Society. Chemical communications*: 892–893. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0022-4936](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0022-4936). [Wikidata](/source/WDQ_(identifier)) [Q104151783](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104151783).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Steven D Leavitt; Martin Westberg; Matthew P Nelsen; et al. (23 February 2018). ["Multiple, Distinct Intercontinental Lineages but Isolation of Australian Populations in a Cosmopolitan Lichen-Forming Fungal Taxon, Psora decipiens (Psoraceae, Ascomycota)"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5829036). *[Frontiers in Microbiology](/source/Frontiers_in_Microbiology)*. **9**: 283. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3389/FMICB.2018.00283](https://doi.org/10.3389%2FFMICB.2018.00283). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1664-302X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1664-302X). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [5829036](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5829036). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [29527197](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29527197). [Wikidata](/source/WDQ_(identifier)) [Q51148234](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q51148234).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** S. Y. Kondratyuk; I. Kärnefelt; A. Thell; J. A. Elix; J. Kim; A. S. Kondratiuk; J.-S. Hur (September 2015). "Brownlielloideae, a new subfamily in the Teloschistaceae (Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota)". *Acta Botanica Hungarica*. **57** (3–4): 321–343. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1556/034.57.2015.3-4.6](https://doi.org/10.1556%2F034.57.2015.3-4.6). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0236-6495](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0236-6495). [Wikidata](/source/WDQ_(identifier)) [Q54800616](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54800616).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Pradeep K Divakar; [Ana Crespo](/source/Ana_Crespo); Mats Wedin; et al. (24 August 2015). "Evolution of complex symbiotic relationships in a morphologically derived family of lichen-forming fungi". *[New Phytologist](/source/New_Phytologist)*. **208** (4): 1217–1226. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1111/NPH.13553](https://doi.org/10.1111%2FNPH.13553). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0028-646X](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0028-646X). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [26299211](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26299211). [Wikidata](/source/WDQ_(identifier)) [Q35753148](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q35753148).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Lücking_2020_15-0)** [Lücking, Robert](/source/Robert_L%C3%BCcking) (2020). ["Three challenges to contemporaneous taxonomy from a licheno-mycological perspective"](https://doi.org/10.11646%2Fmegataxa.1.1.16). *Megataxa*. **1** (1): 78–103 [85]. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.11646/megataxa.1.1.16](https://doi.org/10.11646%2Fmegataxa.1.1.16).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Lumbsch, H.T. (1997). "Systematic studies in the suborder Agyriineae (Lecanorales)". *Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory*. **83**: 62.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Blanco, Oscar; Crespo, Ana; Divakar, Pradeep K.; Esslinger, Theodore L.; Hawksworth, David L.; Lumbsch, H. Thorsten (2004). ["*Melanelixia* and *Melanohalea*, two new genera segregated from *Melanelia* (Parmeliaceae) based on molecular and morphological data"](http://nhm2.uio.no/botanisk/lav/RLL/PDF/Blanco%20et%20al.2004Mycological%20Research.pdf) (PDF). *Mycological Research*. **108** (8): 873–884. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S0953756204000723](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0953756204000723). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [15449592](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15449592).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Flakus, Adam; Kukwa, Martin; Aptroot, André (2016). ["Trypetheliaceae of Bolivia: an updated checklist with descriptions of twenty-four new species"](https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs0024282915000559). *The Lichenologist*. **48** (6): 661–692. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/s0024282915000559](https://doi.org/10.1017%2Fs0024282915000559).

## Further reading

- Kantvilas, G; McCarthy, Patrick M. (Patrick Martin), 1955-; Louwhoff, Simone Henrica J. J; Elix, John A; Wirth, V (2001), *Lichenological contributions in honour of Jack Elix*, J. Cramer, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-443-58057-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-443-58057-5){{[citation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Citation)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list)) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_numeric_names:_authors_list))

v t e Recipients of the Acharius Medal Kansri Boonpragob (2024) Per Magnus Jørgensen (2021) James D. Lawrey (2021) William Alfred Weber (2018) Allan Green (2016) Josef Hafellner (2016) Bruce McCune (2016) Peter Crittenden (2014) Pier Luigi Nimis (2014) Ana Crespo (2012) Leif Tibell (2012) Brian John Coppins (2010) Thomas Hawkes Nash III (2010) David Galloway (2008) Hannes Hertel (2008) Rosmarie Honegger (2008) Mark Seaward (2006) Jack Elix (2004) Ludger Kappen (2004) Marie-Agnès Letrouit-Galinou (2004) David Cecil Smith (2003) David Leslie Hawksworth (2002) Teuvo Ahti (2000) Georges Clauzade (2000) Nina Golubkova (2000) Vernon Ahmadjian (1996) Siegfried Huneck (1996) Christian Leuckert (1996) Ernie Brodo (1994) Margalith Galun (1994) Syo Kurokawa (1994) Elisabeth Tschermak-Woess (1994) Dharani Awasthi (1992) Chicita F. Culberson (1992) William Louis Culberson (1992) Gunnar Degelius (1992) Aino Henssen (1992) Peter James (1992) Hildur Krog (1992) Otto Ludwig Lange (1992) Josef Poelt (1992) Rolf Santesson (1992) John Walter Thomson (1992) Hans Trass (1992) Antonín Vězda (1992)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data Czech Republic Netherlands Sweden Academics CiNii International Plant Names Index People Trove DDB Other IdRef Te Papa (New Zealand) Yale LUX

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