Current Taxonomy of the Lichen Family Teloschistaceae from India with Descriptions of New Species

Abstract

The present study recorded 36 genera and 115 species of the lichen family Teloschistaceae in India. Three species, i.e. Caloplaca rajasthanica S. Y. Kondr., Upreti et G. P. Sinha, Huriella upre- tiana S. Y. Kondr., G. K. Mishra, Nayaka et A. Thell, and Squamulea uttarkashiana S. Y. Kondr., Upreti, Nayaka et A. Thell, are described as new species. Seven new combinations, i.e. Fulgo- gasparrea awasthii (Y. Joshi et Upreti) S. Y. Kondr., Upreti et A. Thell, Neobrownliella cinnabarina (Ach.) S. Y. Kondr., Upreti et A. Thell, Neobrownliella holochracea (Nyl.) S. Y. Kondr., Upreti et A. Thell, Opeltia flavorubescens (Huds.) S. Y. Kondr. et J.-S. Hur, Oxneriopsis bassiae (Willd. ex Ach.) S. Y. Kondr., Upreti et J.-S. Hur, Upretia hueana (B. de Lesd.) S. Y. Kondr. et Upreti and Megaspora subpoliotera (Y. Joshi et Upreti) S. Y. Kondr., Upreti et A. Thell, are proposed based on nrITS phylogeny in the Teloschistaceae and Megasporaceae consequently. Validation of combination Olegblumia demissa is provided. Molecular data on Fulgogasparrea awasthii andMegaspora subpoliotera are recorded from India for the first time. Four new genera including one species each, i.e. Lazarenkoiopsis ussuriensis (Oxner, S. Y. Kondr. et Elix) S. Y. Kondr., L. őkö et J.-S. Hur, Mikhtomia gordejevii (Tomin) S. Y. Kondr., Kärnefelt, Elix, A. Thell, J. Kim, A. S. Kondratiuk et J.-S. Hur, Olegblumia demissa (Flot.) S. Y. Kondr., L. őkö, J. Kim, A. S. Kond- ratiuk, S.-O. Oh et J.-S. Hur and Pachypeltis intrudens (H. Magn.) Sochting Froden et Arup, as well as the genus Megaspora are reported as new for the Indian lichen biota.Out of the eight lichenogeographical regions of India, the Western Himalayas show the maximum diversity of Teloschistaceae members represented with 110 species followed by the Central Indian region with 38 species. The lichen genus Caloplaca is represented with 50 species in the country followed by Athallia and Rusavskia with 6 species each. The saxi- colous taxa exhibit dominance with 65 species whereas the corticolous and terricolous taxa are represented by 48 and 9 species, respectively. Among the different states of India, Ut- tarakhand showed the maximum diversity represented by 54 species followed by the state of Jammu & Kashmir with 37 species, whereas the Jharkhand and Meghalaya states are represented only by the occurrence of a single species each. A key to the genera and species together with the description, basionyms and synonyms of each species are provided.

Biodeterioration Activity of Lichens Communities on Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka World Heritage Zone, Madhya Pradesh, India

“…The study is based on lichens recorded from different localities in an around Bhimbetka World Heritage Zone, Raisan district, Madhya Pradesh. The lichens were identified studying their morphology, anatomy and chemistry following the literature of Awasthi (1991Awasthi ( & 2007, Mishra et al (2020), Bajpai et al (2018). The morphology of the taxa was studied under stereo-zoom binocular microscope.…”

“…The species is characterized by an indistinct grey, crustose thallus, orange to orange-brown apothecial discs with prominent black proper margin and narrowly ellipsoid spores with narrow septa. The species is found growing over sun exposed quartzite rocks in association with C. aloplaca, C. poliotera, C. orissensis and Buellia species in more or less dry areas (Mishra et al, 2020) Chemistry: Thallus K -, C -, KC -, P-: Parietin and olive spot at Rf 4. Biodeterioration activity: Aggressive Fulgogasparrea awasthii (Y. Joshi & Upreti) S.Y.…”

“…Calogaya decipiens (Arnold) Arup, Frödén & Sochting The species is characterized by thin, yellowish-orange crustose thallus with crateriform soralia, growing in association with Peltula species on sandstone (Mishra et al, 2020) Chemistry: Thallus K+ purple, C -, KC -, P-: Parietin, yellow-orange spot at Rf 6.…”

“…The species is characterized by thin, yellowish-orange crustose thallus with crateriform soralia. The species is found growing over non calcareous rocks, both in exposed and shaded locations in association with Endocarpon and Peltula species (Mishra et al, 2020) Chemistry: Thallus K+ purple, C -, KC -, P -: Parietin present.…”

“…Kondr., Upreti & A. Thell The species is characterized by effigurate to ± subsquamulose yellow-orange to orange-red, crustose thallus with blastidia. This species is preferring to grow on exposed rocky substances (Mishra et al, 2020).…”