DIVERSITY OF FOLIOSE LICHENSPECIES IN AZERBAIJAN

Abstract

This article consolidates lichenological data on foliose lichens of Azerbaijan and addresses their species diversity. It was determined that the studied lichens belong to classes Eurotiomycetes, Lecanoromycetes and Lichenomycetes of the phylum Ascomycota. They are represented by 166 species, including 8 orders: Caliciales , Candelariales, Lecanorales , Peltigerales , Teloschistales , Umbilicariales , Verrucariales , Lichinales ; 15 families: Candelariaceae, Collemataceae, Lecanoraceae, Lobariaceae, Nephromataceae, Pannariaceae, Parmeliacea e, Peltigeraceae, Peltylaceae, Physciaceae , Placynthiaceae , Stereocaulaceae , Teloschistaceae, Umbilicariaceae, Verrucariaceae; and 51 genera. Such species as Anaptychia elbursiana , Enchylium ligerinum , Phaeophyscia hirsuta , Parmelia fraudans , Physconia perisidiosa , Punctelia rudecta , Tuckermannopsis chlorophylla , and Umbilicaria proboscidea are new to the lichen flora of the studied region. The article provides information on the location in the studied region, the substrate and the ecological group for each species. It was found that the species diversity of foliose lichens is is mainly formed by five polymorphic families, such as Parmeliacea e, Physciaceae , Collemataceae, Peltigeracea e, and Umbilicariaceae, thatcomprise 132 species (79.5% of the total number of species). Among genera, only five of themhave significant species diversity: Peltigera (17 species), Physcia (15), Umbilicaria (13), Collema (9) and Parmelia (5). As for the humidity factor, five groups were distinguished: mesophytes (132 species), xerophytes (17), xeromesophytes (9), hygromezophytes (6), mesoxerophytes(2). As for the substrate, foliose lichens were devided into five ecological and substrate groups: epiphytes (53 species), epilites (48), epigeids (22), epibriophytes (18), eurysubstrate linchens (25).