Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka

Acknowledgements
This book provides only an introduction to the fascinating and diverse lichens of Sri
Lanka. The book does not contain extensive descriptions that are usually typical to
lichen field guides, as I wanted to make the book simple enough for anyone who
wishes to discover these organisms. This book includes most of the macrolichens that
one is likely to encounter in frequently visited areas such as Horton Plains, Nuwara
Eliya, the Knuckles Mountains or Adams Peak (Sri Pada), plus a few of the more
common and distinctive crustose species. The images in this book are drawn mostly
from those I took for my recent studies, and in some cases I have reused colleagues’
photos for certain species absent from the herbarium or those that were not noted
during the short field trips.
Whenever I am in a lichen-rich landscape of Sri Lanka, I am astounded by the diversity
and complexity surrounding me—countless lichens, interacting at multiple levels,
both visible and invisible to the human eye occur from ground level to canopy top,
shaping and in turn being shaped by the physical environment. Spending time in
an unaltered forest and to be immersed in the result of thousands of generations of
competition and natural selection resulting in a dynamic array of diversity, which,
collectively, is supremely attuned to this unique landscape, is such a fantasy.
According to my field observations and ongoing research studies, over 2000 different
lichen species could occur in Sri Lanka. How many lichens have you seen so far? Do
you really want to know about these fascinating organisms? For me, lichens are an
essential part of any landscape. I began studying them not long ago, only in 2009.
Learning to recognize lichens as distinct life forms, and beginning to distinguish one
from the other, was a revelation to me; a powerful invitation to find out more. I invite
the reader to embark on a similar journey.
Gothamie Weerakoon
Scientific Affiliate, Integrative Research Centre, The Field Museum,
1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605-2496, U.S.A.;
email: gothamiew@yahoo.com
I am especially grateful to Dilmah Conservation for funding the publication of this
lichen book for Sri Lanka.
This book was made possible by the kindness and encouragement from many
people: fellow researchers, administrators, amateur enthusiasts and colleagues
who contributed their expertise and assistance. Many lichenological colleagues
contributed specimens, photographs, and helped with the identification of
specimens. Special mention must be made of the following for their support:
Thorsten Lumbsch, Robert Lucking, Pat Wolseley, Andre Aptroot, Susan Will-Wolf,
Felix Schumn, Yoshihito Ohmura, Dan Blanchon, Sittiporn Parnmen, Matthew Nelson,
Philippe Clerc, Holger Thues, Cecile Gueidan, Steve Leavitt, Ekaphan Kraichak, Eimy
Rivas Plata, Bruce McCune, Pier Luigi Nimis, and Colman Patrick Cloonan.
I am especially thankful to my senior supervisor, Thorsten Lumbsch, for his mentoring
and encouragement which made this book possible. I wish to thank Pat Wolseley for
inspiring my love for lichens. Further, I also wish to express my gratitude to Robert
Lucking, and Andre Aptroot, whose profound knowledge of tropical lichens and
guidance is absolutely central to my involvement with lichens.
I wish to acknowledge the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, National Science
Foundation-USA, Field Museum-USA, Natural History Museum-UK, National
Geographic Society, British Lichen Society and Dilmah Conservation for their
generous support for my research. Heartfelt thanks also to Peter Raven, President
Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Thanks to Chandrani Wijeyaratne for her valuable life lessons.
And thanks to Siril Wijesundara, Veranja Karunaratne, Udeni Jayalal, Aruna
Weerasooriya, Ranil Rajapakshe, and Dinzardhe Raheem for their support.
Finally, I am very grateful for my husband, my two sons, my family, friends, and all
those who made this book possible.
10 Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka
Fascinating Lichens of Sri Lanka 11