Description
M/s Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Foliicolous Lichens of India by Singh K P & A Pinokiyo
Foliicolous lichens constitute one of the important components of biodiversity in wet or moist, high humid, foggy tropical and subtropical forests and confined mostly on upper surfaces of live leaves of plants called phorophytes. These lichens are characterized by low endemism and short life cycle, corresponding to the leaf lifespan. Thus, these lichens require careful collection, preservation and dissection because their thalli and ascocarps are easily detached from the surfaces of leaves. The study on Indian foliicolous lichens flourished well during the period between 1970 and 1980, but after that there has been a long gap except few sporadic publications made from few localities. However, in other parts of the world the study on this group was going on with great advancement. When this study was started again in India during 2001, a serious difficulty was faced since there were no recent literatures and desired facilities required for lifting up our study to the present day approach. Accumulation of world data, updating of nomenclature and procuring protologues were beset with many difficulties. However, these lacunae have been met in due course of time. This floristic account could not have been so meaningful and complete if it lacks illustrations; therefore, for good illustrations more recently during 2007 itself we got the arrangement for good microscopic photography. This account is the out come of extensive study carried out on the collections made by the authors from eastern Himalayan region as well as collections available at AMH, LWU, LWG, BSA and M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. The detailed account of this kind dealing with 135 species under 36 genera and 17 families known so far from India would be helpful to the future workers, interested in this group of microorganisms. As a whole through this account it has been aimed to produce an identification manual for foliicolous lichens of India.