Diversity of foliicolous lichens in Shivamogga district, Karnataka

Abstract

Foliicolous lichens are one of the poorly documented groups of organisms found exclusively in evergreen forests. Very few works have been done on this group of lichens in the state of Karnataka. Hence, the present study is carried out to document the diversity of foliicolous lichens in evergreen, shola and semi-evergreen forest patches of Shivamogga district, Karnataka. Thirty-three species of foliicolous lichens are documented in the present study belonging to 16 genera and nine families. Among them Porina multiloculata, P. epiphylla, P. karnatakensis and Tricharia allostrigosa are the most dominant species. Whereas, Mazosia bambusae, Porina nitidula, P. semecarpi, P. microcarpa and Tapellaria phyllophila are less dominant species. Calamus thwaitesii supports wide range of foliicolous lichens. Cinnamomum macrocarpum, Dimocarpus longan, Memecylon malabaricum and Pinanga dicksonii are the other important plant species commonly supporting the foliicolous lichens in the study area. In the selected small study area, we are able to document 33 species of epiphyllous lichens. More explorations may yield many additions to the present knowledge.