A report on some macrolichens new to Karnataka , India

2318 A large number of taxa collected from the Western Ghats are mentioned in the keys, floristic, monographic and revisionary studies of Indian lichens (Montagne 1842; Awasthi 1988, 1957; Kumar & Stephen 1997, 1999; Patwardhan 1983; Singh 1984; Singh & Sinha 1997). Recently, Nayaka & Upreti (2005) analyzed the status of lichen diversity in the Western Ghats based on published literature which revealed the presence of 949 species with 26.7% endemism. The work on lichens from the Karnataka part of the Western Ghats has been attempted by very few researchers. Nayaka & Upreti (2002) collected 143 species of lichens from Sharavathi Valley along the central Western Ghats. So far, from the available literature only 336 species of lichens have been reported from Karnataka (Vinayaka et al. 2010). In the present study we found six species of macrolichens from the central Western Ghats region of Karnataka (Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Hassan and Coorg districts). There is no mention of these six macrolichen species in previously published literature (Awasthi & Upreti 1980; Singh 1980; Kumar & Stephen 1997; Nayaka & Upreti 2005; Awasthi 2007; Upreti et al. 2008).

A large number of taxa collected from the Western Ghats are mentioned in the keys, floristic, monographic and revisionary studies of Indian lichens (Montagne 1842;Awasthi 1988Awasthi , 1957;;Kumar & Stephen 1997, 1999;Patwardhan 1983;Singh 1984;Singh & Sinha 1997).Recently, Nayaka & Upreti (2005) analyzed the status of lichen diversity in the Western Ghats based on published literature which revealed the presence of 949 species with 26.7% endemism.The work on lichens from the Karnataka part of the Western Ghats has been attempted by very few researchers.Nayaka & Upreti (2002) collected 143 species of lichens from Sharavathi Valley along the central Western Ghats.So far, from the available literature only 336 species of lichens have been reported from Karnataka (Vinayaka et al. 2010).

Materials and Methods
The lichen samples were collected from Malnad region comprising Shimoga, Chikmagalur, parts of Hassan and Coorg districts of Karnataka, Western Ghats, from August 2007 to April 2010.They were identified by studying their external and internal morphology following the keys of Awasthi (2007).Colour reaction on the thallus and apothecia were tested by 10% aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) (K), Steiner's stable para-phenylenediamine solution -C 6 H 8 N 2 (PD), and Calcium hypochlorite solution -Ca(ClO) 2 ) (C).The colour tests were carried out on cortex and medulla of the thallus.Thin layer chromatography (TLC) was done by the concentrated acetone extracts of lichen fragments, separated in solvent system A (Benzene/1-4 dioxane: acetic acid 90:25:4).The colours were noted and spots were marked out, Rf values were noted and calculated.Finally, the lichen substances were identified following the procedures of Orange et al. (2001).Identified lichen specimens are housed at the Herbarium, Department of Botany, Kuvempu University (KU), Shimoga, Karnataka and a set of voucher specimens are deposited at the Herbarium of the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow.
H. albidiflava is characterized by foliose thallus, corticated on both sides, upper side grey in colour.It is close to H. firmula but distinguished by saxicolous, lacking isidia and soredia, yellow medulla which turns red with potassium and deep yellow with paraphenyldiamine.It is endemic to India (Awasthi 2007), distributed in tropical to sub-temperate regions in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim and West Bengal hills.Its first occurrence in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, was found on the bark of trees in the moist deciduous forests.
Spot tests: Medulla K+ red (when potassium hydroxide applied to medulla it gives positive test as red colour), C-, P+ yellow (When para-phenylenediamine applied to medulla it gives yellow colour as positive test and Calcium hypochlorite as negative test).Zeorin present in TLC.
H. microphylla is characterized by foliose thallus, corticated only on the upper surface, densely lobulate along the margin and containing Salazinic acid in medulla.In India it is earlier reported from temperate regions of Sikkim and Uttarakhand (Singh & Sinha 2010).It is new to the Western Ghats of Karnataka, found growing on rocks.
R. taitensis is characterized by fruticose thallus, flattened, greenish-yellow to yellowish-brown in colour, maringal to laminal dense soredia, cracked chondroid tissue, solid medulla with Sekikaic acid aggregate.It is a tropical to lower temperate species, rare in occurrence, reported from Insula Tahiti (French Polynesia) and in India it is known from Sikkim and West Bengal hills (Singh & Sinha 2010).It is new to Karnataka, found growing on the bark of trees in deciduous forests.
. It is new to Western Ghats of Karnataka, rare in occurrence and found growing on tree bark.Spot tests: Medulla K+ yellow, C-, P+ yellow.Stictic acid and Constictic acids present in TLC.