Additions to the lichen flora of Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu more

Additions to the lichen flora of Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu S. Joseph1, S. Nayaka' & V.S. Ramachandran1* 'Taxonomy and Floristic Laboratory, Department of Botany. Bharathiar University. Coimbatore 641046 'Lichenology Laboratory. National Botanical Research Institute. I.ucknow 226001 'email: vsrbotany@gmail.com The Nilgiris. a part of the larger mountain chain of the Western Ghats hold rich lichen diversity in its diverse habitats. While working on the lichens of Nilgiris one of us (SJ) collected five interesting raacrolichens viz., Heienxiermia microphylla, Parmotrema indicum, Parmotrema melanothrix, Pyxtne cocoes vas. prominula and Usnea eumitrioides which were hitherto not reported from this region (Awasthi & Singh, 1973; Singh & Singh, 1976; Nayaka & Upreti, 2005; Awasthi, 2007). The rich lichen diversity of these hills, has been getting degraded due to many anthropogenic activities such as fire wood collection, convening lands for Eucalyptus and tea plantations, illegal logging, construction of buildings and roads, frequent collections and sale of economically important lichens in the local market and unmanaged tourism activities. These activities need to be regulated in order to save the richness and diversity of lichens. Each species is provided with the currently accepted name, distribution in India and specimens examined along with a photograph to facilitate its identification. All the specimens cited arc deposited in the Herbarium of Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. Heterodermia microphylla (Kurok.) Skorepa fPhysciaceac) Distribution: Sikkim. Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. Heterodermia microphylla Specimen examined: Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri district. Dodabetta. ± 2550 m, S. Joseph 09107. Parmotrema indicum Hale (Parmcliaceae) Distribution: Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Specimens examined: Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri district, Kotagiri, ± 1800 m, S. Joseph 09049; on way to Dodabetla from Kotagiri. ± 2400 m. S. Joseph 09068B. Parmotrema melanothrix (Mont.) Hale (Parmcliaceae) Distribution: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh. Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. Specimens examined: Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri district, Dodabetta. ± 2550 m, 5. Joseph 09102A & = 2600 m. 09119. Parmotrema melanothrix on a fallen tree trunk: Inset: Thallus snowing apothecia Pyxine cocoes (Sw.) Nyl. var. prominula (Stirt.) U.D. Awasthi (Caliciaceae) Pyxine cocoes var. prominula Distribution: Kamataka. Madhya Pradesh. Maharashtra. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Specimens examined: Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri district, Tippu sate bungalow, Coonoor, ± 1920 m, £ Joseph 09014; Kayunni, ± 900 m, S. Joseph 09024 & 09025A; Wellington. = 1800 m. S. Joseph 09033. Usnea eumitrioides Motyka (Parmeliaceae) Distribution: Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Sikkim. lamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. Specimen examined: Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri district, Tippu sate bungalow, Coonoor, ± 1920 m, S. Joseph 09009. Usnea eumitrioides Reference* Awasthi. D.D. 2007. A Compendium of the Macrolichens from India. Sepal and Sri l-anka. Bishcn Singh Mahcndra Pal Singh. Dchradun Awaslhi. D.D & K.P. Singh. 1973. A synopsis of ihc foliicolous lichens from the Nilgin hills and Palni hills. India, Geophytology 3: 105- 150. Nayaka, S. & D K. L preu. 2005 Status of Lichen Diversity in Western Ghats. India. Sahyadri B-NtWS, Western Ghats Biodiverstity Information System - Issue XVI:hup '/ wgbis.ces itrc erneLui/btodiversity/nevtslelt cr/issuel6/main_index.htm. Singh, K.P. & S.R. Singh. 1976 Enumeration of Macrolichcns from Nilgiri bills. India Geophytology 6: 27-34 ENVtS Newsletter IBM). 2011 6