Foliicolous lichens of India with special reference to Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

Foliicolous Lichens representing an interesting symbiotic life in phyllosphere, comprise 125 species in India and 91 species in Arunachal Pradesh that form ca 73% of the total Foliicolous Lichen flora of India. Arunachal Pradesh, in Eastern Himalaya exhibits maximum species diversity of Foliicolous Lichens among all the States in India. An analysis indicates that family Trichotheliaceae with 21 spp. is dominant, followed by Ectolechiaceae (16 spp.), Strigulaceae (13 spp.), Pilocarpaceae (13 spp.), Gomphillaceae (8 spp.), etc. The genus Porina with 20 spp. shows maximum diversity, followed by Strigula (12 spp.), Byssoloma (5 spp.), Calopadia (5 spp.), Mazosia (5 spp.), etc. Of the 9 taxa reported endemic to India, 3 are from Arunachal Pradesh. Similarly, out of the 53 species identified as rare for India, 25 species are found in Arunachal Pradesh. The study reports 5 spp., viz. Arthonia palmulacea (Müll. Arg.) R. Sant., Byssoloma polychromum (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr., Coenogonium subleutum (Rehm) Kalb. & V?zda, C. zonatum (Müll. Arg.) Kalb & Lücking, Lasioloma phycophilum (Vain.) R. Sant., as new to Indian Lichen flora and 16 spp. as new records for the State of Arunachal Pradesh. The paper also provides an updated checklist of all the known foliicolous species in India along with their status and distribution in the world.