Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Early Access

New records of lichenised fungi from southeastern part of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13272
Submitted
19 December 2025
Published
25-05-2026
Versions

Abstract

The Similipal Biosphere Reserve in Odisha is renowned for its rich tropical moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests, making it an important biodiversity hotspot, particularly for lichens, which have been underrepresented in scientific documentation. This study was conducted in the southeastern region of the reserve between 2019 and 2020, involving collections from the habitats of tree bark and rocks followed by detailed taxonomic analysis. The research identified fourteen species of lichenised fungi previously unrecorded in Odisha, significantly enhancing the regional understanding of lichen biodiversity. These species were categorised into eight families, including a genus from the order Arthoniales. The newly documented species are Astrothelium bullatum, Astrothelium scoria, Astrothelium subdiscretum, Bactrospora arthonioides, Bactrospora paludicola, Fissurina insidiosa, Graphis balaghatensis, Graphis cervina, Hemithecium flavoalbum, Lepraria cupressicola, Malmidea atlantica, Oxneriopsis bassiae, Phyllopsora corallina and Porina nigrofusca. Each species comes with detailed morphological and anatomical descriptions, accompanied by photographic illustrations for identification. These findings not only deepen the understanding of lichen diversity in eastern India but also highlight the biogeographical importance of Similipal as a reservoir for unique fungal species. The research indicates that tropical regions like Similipal may contain numerous undiscovered taxa. Future work should emphasize systematic long-term surveys, molecular phylogenetic studies for improved taxonomic accuracy and ecological assessments to better understand the impacts of habitat changes and climate on lichens

References

  1. 1. Sinha GP, Nayaka S, Mishra GK. A comprehensive checklist of lichens from India – 2024. Crypt Biodivers Assess. 2024;8(2).
  2. 2. Upreti DK. Lichens on Shorea robusta in Jharsuguda district, Orissa, India. Flora Fauna. 1996;2:159–61.
  3. 3. Nayak SK, Mohapatra A, Chand PK, Satapathy KB. Diversity of lichen flora in Kapilash reserve forest of Dhenkanal district in Odisha, India. In: National conference on cryptogam research in India: Progress and prospects. Lucknow: Indian Lichenological Society; 2015.
  4. 4. Satapathy KB, Nayak SK, Mishra R, Matwal S, Chand PK. A greenery audit report on Utkal University campus, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar. A floristic inventory. UGC Human Resource Development Center, Utkal University; 2016:193.
  5. 5. Panda M, Murthy T, Samal RN, Lele N, Patnaik AK, Mohan PK. A comparative study of manglicolous lichens and their distribution inside Bhitarkanika National Park (Odisha), India. Stud Fungi. 2017;2(1):1–13. https://doi.org/10.5943/sif/2/1/1
  6. 6. Swarnalatha G. Macrolichen diversity of Mahendragiri hills of Odisha State, India. Plant Sci Res. 2017;39(1):56–58.
  7. 7. Nayak SK, Behera PK, Bajpai R, Upreti DK, Satapathy KB. Lichens growth on Sun Temple of Konark in Odisha, India- A curse or blessing. Crypt Biodivers Assess. 2017;2(2):48–52. https://doi.org/10.21756/cab.v2i02.11119
  8. 8. Mishra R, Chand PK, Satapathy KB. Some new additions to the lichen flora of Odisha. Plant Arch. 2020;20:1979–86.
  9. 9. Pradhan S, Behera PK, Pradhan S. Revisionary study on the lichens diversity of Khandagiri and Udayagiri. Indian J Nat Sci. 2020;10(60):26606–12.
  10. 10. Majhi PP, Pradhan S. Diversity and distribution of fructicose lichen in Puri district of Odisha, India. Indian J Nat Sci. 2020;10(60):26619–24.
  11. 11. Nayak SK, Bajpai R, Upreti DK, Satapathy KB. Diversity of lichen flora of Odisha, India- A review. Stud Fungi. 2016;1(1):114–24. https://doi.org/10.5943/sif/1/1/11
  12. 12. Nayak SK, Behera PK, Bajpai R, Satapathy KB, Upreti DK. A need for lichen biodeterioration study on Ratnagiri and Udayagiri excavation site of Jajpur, Odisha. Crypt Biodivers Assess. 2018;3(1):20–23.
  13. 13. Bajpai R, Upreti DK, Nayaka S. The lichen genera Lepraria (Stereocaulaceae) and Leprocaulon (Leprocaulaceae) in India. Phytotaxa. 2018;356(2):101–16. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.356.2.1
  14. 14. Das K, Ross W, Leonard M, Ghosh A, Bera I, Hembrom ME, et al. Fungal biodiversity profiles 61–70. Crypt Mycol. 2018;39(4):381–418. https://doi.org/10.7872/crym/v39.iss4.2018.381
  15. 15. Singh KP, Kumar K. A note on the lichens from Similipal Biosphere Reserve. Indian J For. 2012;35(3):383–90. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2012-314ALM
  16. 16. Sahoo A, Pradhan S. A study on diversity of lichen in Jashipur and its adjoining area of Mayurbhanj, Odisha, India. Indian J Nat Sci. 2020;10(60):20184–88.
  17. 17. Pradhan S, Satapathy KB. A study on diversity of lichen in the north-west transitional zone of Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, India. Indian J Nat Sci. 2020;10(61):26985–90.
  18. 18. Pradhan S, Satapathy KB, Upreti DK. Lichen diversity on Shorea robusta Gaertn. in the transitional zone of Similipal Biosphere Reserve. Amb Sci. 2021;8(2):74–78. https://doi.org/10.21276/ambi.2021.08.2.aa05
  19. 19. Pradhan S, Satapathy KB, Upreti DK. Diversity, distribution and abundance of lichen in Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha. J Exp Biol Agric Sci. 2021;9(6):781–90. https://doi.org/10.18006/2021.9(6).781.790
  20. 20. Pradhan S, Behera PK, Nayak SK, Satapathy KB. Lichen diversity of Udala CD area in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, India. In: International conference on plants and environmental pollution-6. Lucknow; 2018.
  21. 21. Pradhan S, Upreti DK, Meher RK, Satapathy KB. Antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant potential of two dominant macro-lichen Dirinaria aegialita and Parmotrema praesorediosum collected from Similipal Biosphere Reserve of Odisha, India. J Appl Biol Biotechnol. 2022;10(6):34–43. https://doi.org/10.7324/JABB.2022.100604
  22. 22. Pradhan S, Islary P, Satapathy KB, Upreti DK. New additional records of lichenized fungi from India. Vegetos. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42535-025-01220-2
  23. 23. Orange A, James PW, White FJ. Microchemical methods for the identification of lichens. 2nd ed. London: British Lichen Society; 2010.
  24. 24. Lücking R, Archer AW, Aptroot A. A world-wide key to the genus Graphis (Ostropales: Graphidaceae). Lichenologist. 2009;41(4):363–452. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282909008305
  25. 25. Mishra GK, Upreti DK, Nayaka S, Haridas B. New taxa and new reports of Phyllopsora (lichenized Ascomycotina) from India. Mycotaxon. 2011;115(1):29–44. https://doi.org/10.5248/115.29
  26. 26. Breuss O, Lücking R. Three new lichen species from Nicaragua, with keys to the known species of Eugeniella and Malmidea. Lichenologist. 2015;47(1):9–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282914000565
  27. 27. Sobreira PNB, Aptroot A, Caceres MEDS. A world key to species of the genus Bactrospora (Roccellaceae) with a new species from Brazil. Lichenologist. 2015;47(2):131–36. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282914000607
  28. 28. Aptroot A, Lücking R. A revisionary synopsis of the Trypetheliaceae (Ascomycota: Trypetheliales). Lichenologist. 2016;48(6):763–982. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282916000487
  29. 29. Sharma BO, Khadilkar P, Makhija U. New species and new combinations in the lichen genera Fissurina and Hemithecium from India. Lichenologist. 2012;44(3):339–62. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0024282911000752
  30. 30. Wijayawardene NN, Hyde KD, Al-Ani LKT, Tedersoo L, Haelewaters D, Rajeshkumar KC, et al. Outline of fungi and fungus-like taxa. Mycosphere. 2020;11(1):1060–456. https://doi.org/10.5943/mycosphere/11/1/8
  31. 31. Singh KP, Sinha GP. Indian lichens: An annotated checklist. Dehradun: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh; 2010.
  32. 32. Sinha GP, Nayaka S, Joseph S. Additions to the checklist of Indian lichens after 2010. Crypt Biodivers Assess. 2018:197–206. https://doi.org/10.21756/cab.esp16

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.