Description
M/s Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Lichens of Maharashtra by Makhija Urmila
From the botanical point of view the Western Ghats have a special position in the Indian subcontinent for their interesting flora and is one of the richest lichen sites of India. Although, over the past few decades there has been a significant increase in interest and appreciation of the lichen flora of India with localized studies of lichen biodiversity, as well as several intensive field investigations, many parts are still inadequately explored for lichens and many species remain un described. No detailed account of lichens from the Western Ghats of India is available. There has never been a comprehensive treatment of the lichens of Maharashtra. Several species have been described in scattered publications of Indian lichens including monographic accounts. In this background, the present treatment of lichens of Maharashtra with special reference to the Western Ghats is the outcome of exhaustive studies of over 5000 lichen specimens, collected from various parts of Maharashtra state. The book includes a brief introduction, and detailed review of the literature, materials and methods, geographical extent, topography, climate, forest types, and predominating lichens in Maharashtra, location of lichen 'hot spots', keys for the identification of genera and species, followed by a taxonomic account of 288 species in 68 genera of lichens so far recorded from this area. Lichen genera and species have been arranged in alphabetic order. Name of species is followed by the citation and basionym, description of species with chemistry, habitat, distribution in India and world, the distribution in Maharashtra, discussion of specific features and relationships. More than 400 illustrations and a glossary will enable the user of the book to identify the taxa more easily. The book provides the information of the lichens of Maharashtra which was not available before