Mycosphere Doi 10.5943/mycosphere/3/4/11

Lichens on plants in ,

P.P. Sethy1, Pandit GS2* and Sharma BO3

1 Head, Department of Botany, Bhonsala Military College Nasik 422 005. 2, 3Agharkar Research Institute, G. G. Agarkar Road, Pune 411 004.

Sethy P, Pandit G and Sharma B 2012 – on mangrove plants in Andaman Islands, India. Mycosphere 3(4), 476–484, Doi 10.5943 /mycosphere/3/4/11

Twenty-nine species of lichens are reported on mangrove plants in the Andaman Islands. Fourteen species are new records to Andaman Islands, including five new records to India. Key words – Lichenized fungi – new records –

Article Information Received 17 July 2012 Accepted 19 July 2012 Published online 25 August 2012 *Corresponding author: Gargee Pandit – e-mail – [email protected]

Introduction main group consists of North, Middle and The Andaman Islands attracted the South Andaman. attention of floristic botanists as early as 1791 The climate is warm and humid. The (Thothatri 1962) but lichens were not collected Islands are subjected to both the south-west from these islands until 1867 by Dr. Kurz of and the north-east monsoon. The dry or hot the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta. The area season comprises the months of January to has been thoroughly explored by the Indian April while the rest of the year forms the rainy lichenologists (P.G. Patwardhan, Urmila season. Makhija and P.P. Sethy of Agharkar Research The vegetation is typically of tropical Insitutute, Pune; Ajay Singh and D.K.Upreti of nature. As these islands are separated from the National Botanical Research Institute, Indian mainland by a considerable stretch of Lucknow during 1980-1988) and many sea (ca. 1200 km from the eastern coast of collections were made and results published in India), they exhibit remarkable differences in various scattered publications (Singh & Sinha the constituents of their flora from that of the 2010). mainland vegetation. There are a large number From the botanical point of view the of Malaysian elements due to proximity, Andaman Islands have a special position in the besides their own elements that are endemic Indian subcontinent for their interesting flora. taxa due to insular position. The islands are continental fragments and form The vegetation of the islands is part of a lofty range of submarine mountains classified under six types (Thothatri 1962): ca. 1100 km long running from Cape Negrais 1. Mangrove forest (confined to creeks) in the Arakan Yomah range of Burma, through 2. Beach forest (on the coast and Sumatra and Java to the Lesser Sunda Islands. extending somewhat inland) They are composed of two groups of islands 3. Deciduous forest lying in the and situated 4. Evergreen forest at lower elevations between 130 41’ and 100 30’ North and 920 11’ 5. Moist evergreen forest at higher and 930 7’ East. The land area of the entire elevations group of 205 islands is about 6330 km2. The 6. Vegetation in the cleared areas 476

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For the current research project, mangrove March. The specimens were examined with a forests of Andaman Islands were selected as a stereomicroscope and a light microscope. less explored habitat for lichens. The intertidal Sections of the thalli and apothecia were or tidal areas of offer a unique type stained with Lugol’s solution. All sections of ecosystem, which is considered as the most were examined with lactophenol as mounting productive ecosystem of the world. Mangroves medium. Chemical constituents were identified constitutes about 14 million hectares in the by thin-layer chromatography using methods world and 656,000 hectares in Indian standardized for products (Culberson & subcontinent. They are restricted to the coastal Kristinsson 1970, Culberson 1972, White & areas and confined to creeks in different islands James 1985) with the solvent systems benzene- of Andaman. The mangrove vegetation exceeds dioxane-acetic acid (180:45:5), hexane-ethyl 22.5 % of the total forest cover. Ever ether-formic acid (130:80:20), and toluene- increasing population pressure, pollutant ethyl acetate-formic acid (139:83:8). discharges from industries, oil refineries, Specimens were identified using literature tanneries, urban areas, etc. has turned (Nylander 1963, Divakar and Upreti 2005, mangrove forests into a vulnerable and fragile Lücking et al. 2009, Rivas Plata et al. 2010)) ecosystem. During the past three decades the and by comparison with types and protologues. mangrove flora and mangrove ecosystem has All examined specimens are deposited in received much attention from the scientific Ajrekar Mycological Herbarium (AMH). communities (Naskar & Mandal 1999). The epiphytic lichens of these special The species habitats are poorly known. In this context the lichen flora on the mangroves (Figs. A-D) in ◊ New record to Andaman;  New record to Andaman Islands has been explored, India specifically in North Andaman: Kalipur, , Aerial Bay, Laxmipur, Kalighat,  ambiguum (Zahlbr.) R.C. Ramnagar, South Andaman: Manjeri, Harris, in Egan, Bryologist 90: 163, 1987. Chidiyatapu, Wandoor, and Middle Andaman: (Monoblastiaceae) Fig. 1 Yerrata, , Baratang Island, Kadamtala = Arthopyrenia ambigua Zahlbr., Cat. Lich. and Mayabandar. Univ. 10: 73, 1935. It has been observed that crustose Distribution – India (Andaman Islands); lichen species are abundant on the bark of Pantropical. mangroves with fewer foliose lichens; fructicose lichens were not observed during Anisomeridium complanatum (Makhija & this study. The lichens were found on Patw.) R.C. Harris, More Florida Lichens, Incl. mangrove genera Sonneratia, Avicennia, 10 ¢ Tour Pyrenol. (New York): 145, 1995. Xylocarpus, Rhizophora and Brugeria. The (Monoblastiaceae) earlier works on lichens from Andaman were = Ditremis complanata Makhija & Patw., mainly from trees of deciduous and evergreen Biovigyanam 16: 15, 1990. forests. The present work is the first Distribution – India (Andaman & comprehensive work of on the mangrove plants Nicobar Islands, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil in Andaman. Twenty-nine species are identi- Nadu), Endemic. fied including five new records to India. Illustrations of new records are given. ◊Anisomeridium flavopallidum (Makhija & Distribution of lichen species in lichenogeo- Patw.) R.C. Harris, More Florida Lichens, Incl. graphic regions of India is given in Table 1. 10 ¢ Tour Pyrenol. (New York): 146, 1995. (Monoblastiaceae) Fig. 2 Methods = Ditremis flavopallida Makhija & Patw. The specimens were collected from Biovigyanam 16: 16, 1990. Andaman Islands during consecutive years Distribution – India (Maharashtra) 2007 in November-December) and 2008 in Endemic. 478

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Figs 1–8 – Habit 1 Anisomeridium ambiguum. 2 Anisomeridium flavopallidum. 3 Arthonia pellea. 4 Chapsa phlyctidioides. 5 Graphis dendrogramma. 6 Graphis renschiana. 7 Leucodecton biokense. 8 Leucodecton fissurinum. Bars = 1 mm

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◊Arthonia pellaea Leighton, Transact. Linn. 135. 1970. (Physciaceae) Soc. London. 27: 180, 1869. (Arthoniaceae) = Parmelia applanata Fee, Essai Crypt. Ecorc. Fig. 3 Offic . : 126, 1824 Distribution – India (Karnataka); Distribution – India (Andaman Islands, Ceylon. Karnataka, Maharashtra. Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal. West Bengal); widely Chapsa phlyctidioides (Müll. Arg.) distributed in tropical to subtropical regions of Mangold, Aust. Syst. Bot. 21: 221, 2008. the world. (Thelotremataceae) Fig. 4 = Ocellularia phlyctidiodes Müll. Arg., Dirinaria picta (Sw.) Schaer ex Clem, in Hedwigia 32: 130, 1893. Clements& Shear, Gen. Fungi: 323, 1931. Distribution – India (Andaman Islands); (Physciaceae) = Lichen pictus Sw., Prodr.: 146, Eurasia-Tropical Asia, N. America incl. 1788. Mexico, Oceania-Australia Distribution – India (Andaman, Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Coccocarpia palmicola (Spreng.) Arv. & D.J. Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Uttarpradesh and Galloway, Bot. Not. 132: 242, 1979. West Bengal); Australasia, Pacific region, (Coccocarpiaceae) Africa, America. = Lecidea palmicola Spreng., Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 1: 46. 1820. Dyplolabia afzelii (Ach.) A. Massal., Neagen. Distribution – India (Andaman, Nicobar Lich.: 6, 1854. (Graphidaceae) = Graphis Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, afzeliiAch., Syn. Meth. Lich.: 85, 1814. Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Distribution – India (Andaman, Nicobar Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tamil Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Kerala, Nadu, Uttarakhand, West Bengal); Bhutan, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tamil tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Nadu); Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Dominica, Indonesia, Mexico, and Sri Lanka. Diorygma junghuhnii (Mont & Bosch) Kalb, Staiger & Elix, Symb. Bot. Upsal. 34: 157, ◊Graphis dendrogramma Nyl., J. Linn. Soc. 2004. (Graphidaceae) Bot. 16: 226, 1878. (Graphidaceae) Fig. 5 = Ustalia junghuhnii Mont. & Bosch, in Distribution – India (Arunachal Jungh., Pl. Jungh. 4: 477, 1855. Pradesh, Kerala, Sikkim and West Bengal); Distribution – India (Andaman, Nicobar Costa Rica, Malayasia and Sri Lanka. Islands, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharash- tra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Graphis renschiana (Müll. Arg.) and Tamil Nadu); Australia, Brazil, Guatemala, Stizenberg., Bericht. über die Thätigk. St. Indonesia, New Caledonia, Paraguay, Philippi- Gallisch. Naturw. Gesellsch.: 184, 1891. nes, Solomon Islands, Tahiti and Thailand. (Graphidaceae) Fig. 6 = Graphina renschiana Müll. Arg., Flora, Jena Dirinaria aegialita (Afzel. in Ach.) Moore, 68(28): 512, 1885. Bryologist 71: 248, 1968. (Physciaceae) Distribution – India (Andaman Islands); = Parmelia aegialita Afzelius in Acharius, Madagascar, Pantropical Meth. Lich.: 191, 1803. Distribution – India (Andaman Islands, Graphis subdisserpens Nyl., Bull. Soc. Linn. Kerala, Tamil Nadu); S.E. Asia, Africa, S. Normandie, ser. 2, 7: 175, 1873. America and Pacific Oceanic Islands. (Graphidaceae) Distribution – India (Andaman, Nicobar Dirinaria applanata (Fee) D.D. Awasthi, in Islands, Arunachal Pradesh); Insula Labouan and Thailand. Awasthi & Agarwal, J. Indian Bot. Soc. 49:

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Table 1 Distribution of lichen species in lichenogeographic regions of India (Singh et al 2004)

Species 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Anisomeridium ambiguum  + Anisomeridium complanatum + + Anisomeridium flavopallidum ◊ + + Arthonia pellaea ◊ + + Chapsa phlyctidioides  + Coccocarpia palmicola + + + + Diorygma junghuhnii + + + Dirinaria aegialita + + Dirinaria applanata + + + + + Dirinaria picta + + + + + Dyplolabia afzelii + + + Graphis dendrogramma ◊ + + + + Graphis renschiana  + Graphis subdisserpens + + Hemithecium scariosum + Leucodecton biokense  + Leucodecton compunctellum + + Leucodecton fissurinum ◊ + + Leucodecton tarmugliense + Megalotremis biocellata  + Myriotrema norstictideum ◊ + + + + Parmeliella macrospora + Parmotrema disparile ◊ + + Parmotrema ravum ◊ + + + + Pyrenula mastophhoriza + Relicina abstruse ◊ + + Stirtonia ramosa + Thecaria sp. + Tylophoron protrudens ◊ + + + +

◊ = New record to Andaman;  = New to India including Andaman

1= Western Himalaya; 2 = Eastern Himalaya; 3 = Western Dry Region; 4 = Gangetic Plains; 5 = Central India; 6 = Western Ghats; 7 = Eastern Ghats & Deccan Plateau; 8 = Andaman & Nicobar Islands; 9 = Lakshadweep

Hemithecium scariosum Makhija & Adaw., Distribution – India (Andaman, Nicobar Mycotaxon 91: 350, 2005. (Graphidaceae) Islands, Kerala); Australia, New Caledonia, Sri Distribution – India (Andaman, Nicobar Lanka, West Indies, and Africa. Islands). Endemic. ◊Leucodecton fissurinum (Hale) A. Frisch,  Leucodecton biokense A. Frisch, Biblioth. Biblioth. Lichenol. 92: 156, 2006. Lichenol. 92: 153, 2006. (Thelotremataceae) (Thelotremataceae) Fig. 8 Fig. 7 = Myriortrema fissurinum Hale, Bull. Br. Mus. Distribution–India (Andaman Islands); Nat . Hist., Bot. 8: 279, 1981. Africa. Distribution – India (Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu); Africa and Sri Lanka. Leucodecton compunctellum (Nyl.) A. Frisch, Biblioth. Lichenol. 92: 155, 2006. Leucodecton tarmugliense (Sethy, Nagarkar & (Thelotremataceae) Patw.) Frisch, Biblioth. Lichenol. 92: 155, = Thlotrema compunctellum Nyl., Bull. Soc. 2006. (Thelotremataceae) Linn. Normandie, ser. 2, 2: 77, 1868. = Leptotrema tarmugliense Sethy, 481

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Figs 9–14 – Habit 9 Megalotremis biocellata. 10 Myriotrema norstictideum. 11 Parmotrema disparile. 12 Parmotrema ravum. 13 Relicina abstruse. 14 Tylophoron protrudens. 9, 10, 13, 14 Bars = 1 mm; 11–12 Bars = 5 mm. 482

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Nagarkar & Patw., Mycotaxon 28: 192, 1987. Distribution – India (Karnataka and Distribution – India (Andaman, Nicobar Kerala); Indonesia, Japan, Malaya, Philippines, Islands). Endemic. and Taiwan. Central, South and North America. Megalotremis biocellata Aptroot, Biblthca Lichenol. 44: 125, 1991. (Trypetheliaceae) Fig. 9 Stirtonia ramosa Makhija & Patw. Distribution –India (Andaman Islands); Biovigyanam 13(2): 49, 1987. (Arthoniaceae- Costa Rica, Australia. unsettled position) Distribution – India (Andaman, Nicobar ◊Myriotrema norstictideum (Patw. & Islands). Endemic. Nagarkar) D.D. Awasthi, Biblioth. Lichenol. 40: 3 1991. (Thelotremataceae) Fig. 10 Thecaria sp. (Gr aphidaceae) = Lepotrema norstictideum Patw. & Nagarkar, Biovignyam 6: 5, 1980. ◊Tylophoron protrudens Nyl., Ber. Tät. St Distribution–India (Assam, Meghalaya, Gall. Naturw. Ges. 20: 279, 1862 [1861-62] Tamil Nadu and West Bengal). Endemic. Lecanorales Fig. 14 Distribution – India (Kerala, Orissa, ◊Parmotrema disparile (Nyl.) Hale, Phytologia Uttarakhand and West Bengal); Nepal. 28: 336, 1974. (). Pantropical. Fig. 11 =Parmelia disparalis Nyl., Syn. Lich. 1(2): Acknowledgements 381, 1860 The first author wishes to thank Distribution – India (Tamil Department of Science and Technology (DST), Nadu) and Mexico; Africa Government of India, New Delhi, for financial support. We also thank the anonymous ◊Parmotrema ravum (Krog. & Swinscow) reviewers for their valuable reviewing. Sérus., in Vĕzda, Lich. Sel Exs. Fasc. 75 No. 1857, 1983. (Parmeliaceae) Fig. 12 References =Parmelia rava Krog & Swinscow, Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Bot. 9: 207, 1981. Culberson CF. 1972. Improved conditions and Distribution – India (Arunachal new data for the identification of lichen Pradesh, Kerala, Manipur, Nagaland, Tamil products by a standardized thin-layer Nadu, Uttarakhand); Nepal and Africa. chromatographic method. Journal of Chromatography 72, 113–125. Parmeliella macrospora Makhija & Adaw., Culberson CF, Kristinsson H. 1970. A Mycotaxon 71: 332, 1999. (Parmeliaceae) standardized method for the Distribution – India (Andaman, Nicobar identification of lichen products. Journal Islands). Endemic. of Chromatography 46, 85–93. Divakar PK, Upreti DK. 2005. Parmelioid Pyrenula mastophhoriza (Nyl.) Zahlbr., Cat. Lichens in India (A revisionary study). Lich. Univers. 1: 439, 1922. (Pyrenulaceae). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, = Verucaria mastophoriza Nyl., Bull. Soc. linn. Dehra Dun, p. 1–488. Normandie, sér. 2, 7: 180, 1873. Lücking R, Archer A, Aptroot A. 2009. A Distribution – India (Andaman & world-wide key to the Graphis Nicobar Islands). Endemic. (Ostropales: Graphidaceae). Licheno- logist 41: 363–452. ◊Relicina abstrusa (Vain.) Hale, Phytologia Naskar KR, Mandal RN. 1999. Ecology and 28: 484, 1974. (Parmeliaceae) Fig. 13 biodiversity of Indian mangroves 1, 3- = Parmelia abstrusa Vain., Acta Soc. Faun. 348. Dehradun, India, Milton Book Fl. Fenn. 7(7): 64. 1890. Company.

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