Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka

Phyllopsora
Lace- scale lichens
Lecanorales Ramalinaceae
c.70
Phyllopsora is a crustose to squamulose genus. The genus consists of species
growing primarily on the bark of tree trunks and main branches in tropical and
subtropical humid montane forest to rainforests. However, Phyllopsora is still
poorly known in many parts of the world.
Most species have a thallus with corticate and loosely to closely appressed
squamules usually green to greyish green or grey. There is a white to reddish
brown hypothallus present. More than 15 species are known from Sri Lanka
up to date, the most common of which tend to be Pantropical species. Recent
research by Weerakoon and Aptroot (2014) documents eight new records of this
genus for Sri Lanka, including five species that are new records for the Indian
subcontinent. The Sri Lankan species of Phyllopsora occur on tree trunks, wood,
and on rocks of rainforests, sub-montane, and montane forests throughout
humid areas.
Ramalinaceae
Most species known from Sri Lanka are overlooked and need taxonomic revision.
Studies are also needed to collect and identify the total diversity of this genus
in Sri Lanka, as it can be assumed that many more species remain undiscovered
in other habitats.
Apothecia biatorine, disc reddish brown; Asci: mostly8-spored; Spores:
colourless, ellipsoid, usually simple.
Chemistry Various substances.
Phyllopsora borbonica
Description The thallus is formed of small, adnate, isodiametric areolae (an
island of thalli that develop on hypothallus) which are discrete to adjoined
peripherally, and forms a more or less continuous crust centrally. Areoles are
pale green and glabrous (smooth, not hairy). Isidia are absent. The prothallus is
brownish black. Apothecia are abundant, rounded, simple, plane to moderately
convex and reddish brown.
IC
R
Sq
Ramalinaceae
Chemistry No lichen substances
Status Mostly seen on mature tree trunks in very humid, shaded interiors. New
record for the Indian sub continent and Sri Lanka.
Habitat Mostly found in humid mid elevation to high elevation forests above
1300 m.
Locations Few places in Nuwara Eliya and Adam’s Peak trail.
128 Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka
Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka 129