Ecological, Social and Commercial Role of Lichens in India with ...

Acdemia Arena 2010, Supplement 0201
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(Everniastrum, Parmotrema, Cetrariopsis and Sticta), Cyanolichens (Leptogium), Usnioid (Usnea,
Ramalina) and Physcioid (Heterodermia) lichens.
The Physcioid genera having larger thallus (Heterodermia diademata) prefer to grow on the
thicker twigs while members having smaller sized thallus (H. hypocasia, H. incana, H. leucomela)
grow on thin twigs in association with crustose lichens towards the apex. Q. semecarpifolia stands
of diameter class of more than 4.0 cm exhibit only the presence of Cyanolichens.
Most of the Parmelioid genera colonize on all the five diameter classes of twigs and number
of species increases as the thickness of the twigs increases, except E. cirrhatum which grows on
thinner branches also. Some species of Usnioid lichens prefer thin barks towards the distal region
of twigs.
Q. semecarpifolia bears the maximum individuals in different diameter classes followed by
Q. floribunda and Q. leucotrichophora. The probable reason for dominance of lichens on Q.
semecarpifolia may be the higher altitude as mentioned by Pirentoses et al. (1995), the crucial
factor determining the spatial heterogeneity of epiphytes lichens of Fagus sylvatica is the altitude
and not the height on the trunk at which lichen community is established.
Q. floribunda and Q. leucotricophora exhibit the representation of only Parmelioid and
Usnioid lichen communities. Q. leucotrichophora has 3 genera belonging to 3 species of
Parmelioid and 7 species of Usnioid lichens while Q. floribunda has 3 species of Parmelioid and
12 species of Usnioid lichens.
Out of the 38 commercially used lichen species from different states of India, enumerated
by Upreti et al. (2005), 24 species of 15 genera belong to Parmelioid lichens with maximum
representation of Everniastrum and Parmotrema species followed by Usnioid (8 species of 2
genera) lichens. Lichen genera Everniastrum, Parmotrema, Rimelia, Parmelaria, Usnea, Lobaria,
and Ramalina are exploited exhaustively for their commercial use. Q. semecarpifolia forests are the
best collection sites for these lichens. Shah (1997) and Upreti et al. (2005) have documented the
need for protection and conservation of lichens in India because of their intensive exploitation, but
conservation has not received the desired attention. The less lichen biomass in India forest as
compared to other European countries further advocate that the trade of endangered lichen species
such as Parmotrema nilgherrense, Everniastrum cirrhatum, and E. nepalense should be banned in
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