THE LICHEN FLORA IN THE ENVIRONS OF

GANGOTRI AND GOMUKH, INDIA.

I-THE MACROLICHENS
By
DHARANI DHAR A WASTHI & SHRI RAM SINGH
Lichenology Laboratory Deprtment of Botany, Lucknow University. Lucknow .
. Abstract
'".te paper reports the occurrence of 74 macrolichen taxa belonging to from the environs ori
Gangotfl and Gomukh Anaprychia pseudoroem rj Awasthi & S. Singh and Physcia gomukhensis Awasthi &1
S. Singh arc new to ,science, Phaeophyscia hispidllJa (Ach.) Awasthi & S. Singh is a new combination, and!
14 species marginally marked with an asterisk (*) are new reports from India.
Introduction
An e.Xhaustive collection of lichens from
the environs of Gangotri and Gomukh, situated
in the trans-Himalayan region in Uttarkashi
district of Uttar Pradesh, was made by us in
June/July 1976. Gornukh (alt. ca. 3800 m)
is the place from where the mighty river Ganga
(Bhagirathi) takes its origin from the mouth
of the Gangotri glacier. Gangotri town (alt.
ca. 3150 m) is situated downstream at about
18 km from Garnukh a:1d has a temple by
the bank of the BhagirathL About 12 km
further down, 3 km beyond Bhairon G!1ati,
is the place called Lanka (alt. ca. 2700 m)
which was then the terminus of the motorable
road. B!tween Lanka and Bhairon Ghati the
Bhagirathi and its tributory Nilong river have
their confluence in a deep gorge.
Lichen collection were made along the
way from Lanka to Gomukh via Gangotri,
and rather exhaustively from . the different
moraines near Gomukh. At Lanka and
Bhairon Ghati is predominance of Cedrus
deodara whose trunks and branches are den-
sely inhabited by foliose and fruticose lichens
mostly belonging to the genera EI'ernia, Helero-
'dermia, P..Jrmelia, Physcia, Rama/ina and
:
Usnea. From Bhairon Ghati to
Pinus excelsa, Pinus sylvestris and species o.
Picea become more common but there
apparently no appreciable change in the licheu
taxa growing on them. About half way to
Gomukh from Gangotri is the place called
Chirbasa (alt. ca. 3300 m), which literally
means Pinus (Chir) grows (basa), and it (Pinw)
does not grow beyond. Along with the
grow Rhododendron, Aesculus, Acer,
Spiraea, Berberis etc. Beyond Chirbasa and
upto Bhojbasa (alt. ca. 3600 m), which is 3
before Gomukh, it is Betula that predominated
in association with Berberis, Rosa, Spiraea
and shrubby Rhododendron. Like Chirbasa,
Bhojbasa also literally means Betu/a (Bhoj)
grows (basa), and Betula does not grow beyon4
that place. The chief c?rticolous lichen taxa
growing on the bark of these plants en route,
are the species of Heterodermia, Parine/jo,
Physcia, Rama/ina, UJnea, Xantho;ia etc.
Between Bhojbasa and Gomukh the area is
shrubby to scrubby with grasses, Cotoneaster"
Cupressus, Juniperus, Ephedra growing
gst the boulders. The corticoJous forms arc:
rather rare though the few interesting forms
belonging to Hypogymnla, Cetraria and
138 Indian Journal of Forestry 1: 138-146, 1978
FLORA OF GANGOTRI AND GOMUKH
forms gcow on the old stems of
Juniperus and Ephedra. Majority
are saxicolous or terricolous. The
er the the more densely inhabited
.lichens are. The older moraines have
'ose and fruticose forms belonging to A lee-
I .
a Cetraria, Cladonia, Cornicularis, Parmelia
and yellow), Peitigera, Physcia, Rama.
I, StereOCQlI[on, Thamnolia, Umbilicaria and
nthoria. while the crustose forms are mostly
'Lecanorace:;te, Lecideaceae, Caloplacaceae
i The younger moraines are
lerally inhabited by crustose forms only.
)ser to the snout of the glacier few crustose 3.
IDS were present in their initial stages of
relopment on the boulders but none grow

'The lichens collected from this region, were
lnd to exhibit a close relationship to the
in the temperate-alpine
indinavia (Dahl & Krog, 1973), and several
species are common between the

o areas.
l
following account pertains to the so
.. determined 74 macrolichen taxa belonging
b2 genera arranged alphabetically inclusive
Ispecies. The species marked with an aste-
are new reports from India and are
with diagnotic details. The speci-
rns belong to Herb. Awasthi. (AWAS).
'1 Alectoria Ach. (Usneaceae)
Alectoria smithii DR.
Corticolous or terricolous in shade. Be-
tween Chirbasa and Gomukh area.
Alectoria tenuis Dahl
Thallus small, dark brown, loosely bran-
ched, branch:!s thin, apical branches
attenuate and capillaceous, fibrils present
and diverge from the main axis or
branch at almost rig!1t angles; young
branches and fibrils olivaceous green.
isidia and soredia
absent. Thallus and medulla .K -, C-,
KC-, P-.
This species is closely related to
A. bieolor (Ehrh.) Nyl. from which it
is distinguished by loosely branched
thallus, attenuate and capiIJaceous apical
branches and negative P reaction in the
medulla. On rocky soil, 5th and 6th
moraines in Gomukh area.
This species is so far known from Green-
land and Scandinavia.
pAnaptychia Korb. (Physciaceae)
Anaptychia pseudoroemeri Awasthi and
S. Singh, sp; nov. (Figs. 1 & 2).
Subsimilis Anapt)'chic r() meri PoeIt,
differt a thallus apice non denticulatus,
subtus pauce rhizinatus, corticatus,
cortice inferne crassus et hyphae paral-
lelae.
Thallus terrico!ous, several cm wide,
foliose, growing in the form of reddish
brown to dark brown dense tufts, den-
sely and intlicately lobed, lobes ascend-
ing, 0.4-0.75 (1.0) mm wide, tips darker
and often swollen; upper surface
smooth; pruina, soredia and isidia
absent; under surface pale brown with
sparse, simple rhizinae, but marginal
rhizinae simple to squarrosely branched.
Upper cortex 20-76 /Lm thick composed
of longitudinally and paralleJly
arranged confluent hyphae; algal zone
38-76 /Lm thick, interrupted by cortical
septa; alga green, cells spherical,
6-15 /Lm in diam; medulla very thi n
to insignificant; lower cortex hyaline,
57-105 /Lm thick, formed of longitudi-
nally parallelly dispersed conglutinated
hypbae. Apothecia absent. Thallus
and m..!dul1a K-, C-, KC-, P-; no
chemical substance demonstrated by
TLC.
139
Indian Journal of Forestry 1: 138-146, 1978
*4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
INDIAN JOURNAL OF FORESTRY
This species resembles A. roemeri Poelt
in most of the characters but differs
from that in the non denticulate
of lacinae, thin to almost ins:gnificant
medulla and the presence of a thick
lower cortex. (A. roemeri is reported
to have ca. 50 ILm thick medulla with-
out lower cortex (Poelt, t 968). Loc:
Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkashi district,
Gomukh area, right bank, 5th moraine,
al1. ca. 378() m, on grouud, July 4, 1976.
D.D. Awasthi and S.R. Singh 8501
(Holotype: A WAS).
'f> Cetraria Ach. (Parmeliaceae)
Cetraria chlorophylla (Willd.) Vain.
Thallus corticolous, foliose, reddish
brown, loosely attached to the sub-
stratum, dichotomously to irregularly
branched; lobes flat, 2-3 mm wide;
surface smooth; margin irregular to
undulate and densely sorediate; soredia
farinose and yellowish. A pothecia very
rare on the ends of the branches, not
mature. Medulla white, K-, C-, KC-
P-, 1-. Gomukh area, 6th moraine.
This species is so far known from
Europe, America and Japan.
Cetraria cllcculata (Bel1.) Ach. In
Gomukh ar.::a on sandy soil, growing
with C. nh'ulis.
Cetraria everniella (Ny!.) Kremp.
Common on rocky soil of the
moraines in Gcmukh.
Cetraria hepatizon (Ach.) Vain. On rocks
in open areas in Gangotri and Gomukh.
Cetraria isJandica (L.) Ach. Frequent
on ground in ledges of older moraines
in Gomukh area.
Cetraria nivalis (L.) Ach. Frequent on
sandy s0il in Gomukh area.
Cetraria pinas!ri (Scop.) RohI. A
common corticolous lichen from Gan-
gotri to Gomukh.
'fJ Cetrelia Culb. et Culb. (Parmeliaceae)
1 I. Cetrelia olive/orum (Ny!.) Culb.
Culb. On bark between Bhairon 0&1
and Gangotri.
l,./Cladonia (Hill). Vain. (Cladoniaceae)
12. Cladonia pyxidata (L.) Fr. On soili
shady place 2km beyond Chirbasa. "1
NB : Several other of
donia are under study.
Cornicularia Ach. (Parmeliaccae)
13. 'fCornicu!aria 'aculeata (Schreb.) Ach. 01
sandy soil below big boulders iQ
Gomukh area.
* 14.y Cornicularia.muricata (A.ch.) Ach.
. Thallus terncolous, frutlcose pale to
dish brown, dark brown in the bas&
. ,'" densely branched, branches fiat;
tened to terete, froncs narrow, uptc
1 mm wide, solid, occasionally
marginal cilia; surface smooth, pseudo-
cyphellae; pseudocyphellae plane, oval to
elliptic in shape. Sterile. Medulla white
l
K-, C-, KC-, po, 1-. On ground in
Gomukh area, 5th and 6th morames.
This species is so far known from
temperate and alpine regions of Europe.
*15. 'vCornic.ularia odontella (Ach.) Rohl.
Thallus terricoious, fruticose, loosely
attached to the dark brown
in the basal older parts, pale to reddish'
brown above, densely branched; fronds .
distinctly flattened, solid, upto 1.5 mm
wide with blunt apices, marginal cilia'
long; surface smooth, pseudocyphellate;
pseudocyphel!ae plane, white, elliptic,
and oval in shape. Sterile. Medulla
white, K-, Co, KC., P-, 1-.
Gomukh area on soil, 5th and 6th
moraines. This species is so far known
from Scandinavia and Russia.
Evernia Ach. (Usneaceae)
16. \tEvernia mesomorpha Nyl. Common on
the trunk and twigs of the trees and alsO
140
Indian Journal of Forestry 1: 138-146, 1978
FLORA OF GANGOTRI Al'<D GOMUKH
on ground in higher altitudes from
Bhairon Ghati to Gomukh area. Vari-
ations in thallus range from pale to grey
brown and typically isidiate to isidiate/
sorediate condition. \
formed in G.A.W. On soil with mosses
in Gomukh area, 5th and 6th
This species has so far been known from
Japan.
Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. Common
on bark.and soH from Bhairon Ghati to
Gomukh area.
Trev. em. Poelt
(Physciaceae)
17. Heterodermia Ieucomela ssp. boryi (Fee)
Swinsc. and Krog. On soil over boulder.
Bbairon Ghati area. .
* 18. 'vtieterodermia microphylla (Kurok.)
Skorepa
Thallus foliose, greyish brown, irregu-
larly laciniatc, laciniae linear, upto
1.5 mm wide, densely lobulate, lobules
marginal, very small, de .k.: whitish
along the margin; upper surface smooth,
soredia and isidia absent; under surface
whiti"h to darker, concolorous rhizinae
along the margins; upper cortex 3876
SLm thick, algal zone continuous or dis-
continuous upto 76 ILm thick, medulla
compact; lower cortex ab3cnt; apothecia
Cortex K + yellow; medulla K +
. yellow, C-, KC-, P-. Atranorin and
Zeorin present (TLC).
This species is distinguished from
H. hypo/euca by the presence. of very
small 'lobules along the margins of
laciniae. It is so far known from Japan,
America and Africa. NB: The combi-
nation H. microphyIIa (Kurok.) Skorepa
(1972) anti dates that of Swinscow &
Krog (1976). On boulders, Gangotri.
Hypogymnia (Nyl.) Ny!. (Parmeliaceae)
19. Hypogymllia fragillima (Hillm.) Rass.
Thailus terricolous, foliose, fragile,
yellowish to dark brown, dichotomously
divided, 1-2 mm wide, upper sur-
fa(;e yellowish with dark patches, under
surface dark brown to black and perfor-
ated. Sterile. Medulla white: K-, C-,
KC-, P-. Crystals of Physodic acid
Lecanora (Ach.) Th. Fr. (Lecanoraceae)
21. Lecanora rubina (VilI.) Ach. Thalli range
from 1 to 4 em in diam. and usually
possess many apothecia with a bright
red to reddish brown disc, which in
mature condition may become convex.
Common on rocks, Gangotri to
Gomukh ..
Nephroma Ach. (Peltigeraceae)
22. Nephroma helv2ticum Ach. On ground
with mosses in shady places under
Betula near Bhojbasa.
*23. Nephroma isidiosum (NyJ.) Gyel.
Thallus foliose, brown, loosely attached
to the substratum, 'lobes irregular,
5-8(10) mm wide; margin entire to
creRulate; upper surface scrobiculate,
isidiate; isidia coralloid in clusters on the
cracked ridges and along the margins,
medulla whitish; alga blue green; lower
surface slightly lighter to concolorous
\vith upper surface and covered with
dense, short, brown tomenta and scat-
tered rhizinae. A pothecia absent. Thallus
and medulla K-, C-, KC-, p..;.
This species is distinguished from
N. helveticum Ach. by clustered, coralloid
isidia along the cracked ridges on' the
upper surface. On mossy ground near
Chirbasa. This taxon has so far been
reported from Western Siberia, North
America and Scandinavia sensu Wetmore
(1960).
24. Nephroma parile (Ach.) Ach. A sore-
diate species, .common on ground in
141
Indian Journal of Forestry 1: 138-146, 1978
INDIAN JOURNAL OF fORESTRY
shade of trees between Chirbasa and
Bhojbasa.
ParmeUa (Ach.) De Not. (Parmeliaceae)
23. Parmelia caperata (L.) Ach. Common
on the trunks .of Cedrus, Pinus from
Bhairon Ghati to Gangotri and occasion-
ally on rocks in area.
26. Parmelia conspersa (Ach.) Ach. Common
over rocks from Gangotri to Gomukh
area.
27. Parmelia exasperatula Nyl. On the trunk
of Betula and also on rocks, between
Chirbasa and Gomukh.
28. Parmelia jl.1ventior Stirt. Common on
the barf: from Bhairon Ghati to Bhoj-
basa.
29. Parmelia glabratula Lamy. Common on
b3.rk and over ground, Bhairon Ghati to
Gomukh.
30. Parmeliapannijormis (NyL) Vain.
Thallus saxicolous, foliose, brown to
black, sub orbicular, closely to loosely
irregularly lobed; lobes 0.5:-1
(1.5) mm wide, discrete to imbricate;
upper smooth to irregularly
pitted, without pseudocypheUae, shining
near the tips; initially isidioid later finger
like dorsiventral lobules present along
the margin of the lobes; confluent
capitate soralia present in the central
part of the thallus; soredia granular;
under surface black with sparse black
rhizinae. Apothecia absent Thallus
cortex K-, HNO
a
-; medulla white, K-,
C-, KC-, P.
This species is distinguished by presence
of m<l;rginal lobules. This species has
so far known from North America,
Europe, Siberia, mountains of Venezuela
and central Chile sensu Esslinger (1977).
On rock in Gomukh area.
31. Parmelia pseudonilgizcrrensis Asah. Ot
bark arid on ground from Bhairon GhatJ
to Gomukh.
*32. Parmelia sorediosa Almb.
Thallus saxicolous, foliose dark brown
to black, sub )rbicular (2 5 em long and
2 em wide), closely adnate, irregularly
lobed, lobes 0.5-1 mm wide discrete only
near the periphery, plane to convex,
sorediate; soralia terminal, capitate,
discrete, borne on the tips of small erect
lateral branches; so redia granular to
isidioid; upper surface smooth to wrink-
led, duI1; pseudocyphellae, maculae
absent. Under surface black, sparsely
rhizinate. Thallus cortex K-, HNO
a
-;
medulla white, K-, C-, KC-, P-.
This species is distinguished from
P. disjuncta Erich. by the lack of pseudo-
cyphellae, and the presence of terminal
soralia and narrower lobes. It has so
far been known from North America
and Europe. On rock in Gomukh area.
*33. Parmelia substygia Reis.
Thallus sax"icolous, foliose, dark brown
to black, dichotomously to irregularly
lobed, lobes narrow, upto 1.5(2) mm
crowded to discrete, plane to
slightly convex, pseudocyphellate;
pseudocyphellae whitish, plane; older
lobes sorediate; soralia capitate. Gener-
ally sterile, rarely fertile; apothecia
1-'4 mm in diam.; disc reddish brown;
plane to concave; margin concolorous;
sorediate; hymenium hyaline, 38-47 !Lm
high; spore3 hyaline, simple, oval to
ellipsoid, 9-13 x 4-6 !L m. Thallus K-,
medulla white, K-, C + pink, KC +
pink, P-. Common on boulders near
Gangotri and Gomukh area. This taxon
has so far been known from Europe,
North America, West Pakistan, Nepal,
Mangolia and U.S.S.R. sensu Esslinger
(1977).
142
Indian Journal of Forestry 1: 138-146, 1978
Ft.ORA OF GANGOTRJ AND GOMUKH
sldcata Tayl. Common on
.. . bark and also on rocks from Bhairon
Ghati to Gomukh area.
Parmelia taraetlea Kremp. On rocks in
the form of small to large yellowish,
loose:y attached patches, rarely on bark,
infrequent between Bhairon Ghati and
Gangotri, and common between Gango-
tri and Gomukh.
36. Parmelia tiliaeea (Hoffm.) Ach. On a
fallen log in Bhairon Ghati near bridge
on Nilong river.
37. Parrnelia tinctina Mah. and Gill. On
boulders near Gapgotri.
38. Parmelia ulophyJIodes (Vain.) Sav. In
association with Parmelia eaperata and
Parrnelia fiaventior. Common in Bhairon
Ghati area on Cedrus deodara bark and
extends upto Bhojbasa, occasionally on
rocks.
39. Parmelia villosella Essl. Common on
bark from Bhairon Ghati to Gomukh
area.
Peltigera Pers. (Peltigeraceae)
Peltigera eanina (L.) Willd. On ground
n moist and shady places between
2hirbasa and Bhojbasa.
(1. Pelligera horizontalis (Huds.) Baumg. On
shady ground near Chirbasa.
42. Peltigera praetextata (Florke) Vain. On
sandy soil in the ledges of big bemlders
in Gomukh area.
.r. Peltigera rt1escens (Weiss) Humb. On
ground in ledges of big boulders III
Gomukh area.
Phaeophyscia Mobcrg (Physciaceae)
I
" The greyish brown species of the genus
,yscia s. l. which do not possess atranorin,
l
aIlY Ltck pruina and possess simple rhizinae,
,e been transferred under a new genus,
eophyscia, by Moberg (1977). We have
e followed Moberg's concept. .
* 44.0haeophyscia ciliata (Hoifm.) Moberg.
Thallus saxicolous of terricolous foftose,
grey brown to dark brown almost ck scly
appressed to substratum, lobes radiating.
upto 1.5 mm wide, mostly flat, upper
surface 'smooth; cilia, soredia and isidia
absent; underside dark brown to black
with concolorous rhizinae; upper
cortex paraplectenchymatous, unevenly
thick, with a thin outer brownish layer;
algal layer irregular and reaching deep in
the medulla; medulla white very thin;
lower cortex paraplectenchymatous.
Apothecia common in the central part of
the thallus, 1-2.5 mm in diam., with an
. indistinct corona (crown of the rhizinae
at the base of apotheclUm); disc black;
margin concolorous with the thallus;
spores brown, bicelled, Physeia type,
18-28, 5 x 9-15 lim in size. Thallus K-;
medulla K-; atranorin absent. On rocks
and ground near Gangotri and Gomukh
area. This species has so far been
. known from America and Europe.
*450fraeophyscia eonstipata (Norrl.) Moberg.
Thallus terricolous, foliose, greyish
brown, irregular in outline, lacin iae
narrow, long and very fragile;
upper surface smooth; cilia, isidia and
soredia absent; under surface dark brown
to black with simple upper
paraplectenchymatous, unevenly
thick, lo\ver cortex paraplectenchy-
matous. rare, 1-3 mm in
diam. without corona; spores brown,
bicelled, Physcia type, 15-27 x 7-13 !Lm
in size. thallus and medulla K-, atra-
norin absent. On soil in Gomukh area.
The taxon has so far been known from
the Arctic and Alpine regions of Europe
and North America.
46. Phaeophyscia endoeoccina (Korb.)
Moberg. On rocks in Gomuk area.
143
Indian Journal of Forestry 1: 138-146, 1978
Figs. 1 & 2. Anol'tyc1zia pseudorocmcri Awasthiand S. Singh-Fig. 1. Photo of a part of the holotype in
surface view. Fig: 2. Photo of a part of the holotype in lateral view (enlarged).
Figs. 3 & 4. Physcia gomukhcmis Awasthi & S. Sing h-Fig. 3. Photo of the part of holotype.
Fig. 4. Few laciniae enlarged to show p1inute reticulate scrobiculations on surface.
Indian Journal of Forestry 1: 138-146, 1978
INDIAN JOURNAL OF FORESTRY
Vt( Phaeophyscia hispidula (Ach.) Awasthi
and S. Singh, comb. nov.-Basionym:
Parmelia hispidula Ach. in Lichenogra-
phia Universalis, Gottingen, 1810; 468.-
Physcia hispidu/a (Ach.) Frey. Ber.
Schweiz Bot. Ges 1963, 73: 389-503.-
Physcia setosa (Ach.) Nyl. Synops.
Meth. 'Lich., 1, 18 0; 429. On rocks and
soil between Bhairon Gh,ati and Gango-
tri.
48. Phaeophyscia kairamoi (Vain.) Moberg
(Syn. Ehyscia karakorina Poelt)
Thallus corticolous, foliose, lobes mar-
ginally white ciliate, isidia marginal and
broken into small granular fragments
provided with hyaline hairs. Under side
dark brown to black with long, black
simple rhizinae which usually project
beyond the margins. Both the cortices
are paraplectenchymatous.
Apothecia 2-5 mm in diam., young
apothecia concave with dark brown to
black disc and a prominent thalline
margin, hyaline cilia present at the base
of apothecia but not in the form of a
distinct corona, older apothecia flat-
tened; spores brown, bicdled. Physcia
type. 15 -26 X 7 -15 /Lm in size. On bark
between Gangotri to Gomukh. This
specimen confirms to the description of
Plzyscia karakorina Poelt reported from
Karakorum by Poelt (1961), in most of
the characters except in the corticolous
habit, larger apothecia and imperfect
corona of few cilia. The taxon has
however been with Phaeo-
physcia kairamoi (Vain.) Moberg by
Moberg (1977) and has been reported
to be corticolous as well.
.49. Phaeophyscia sciastra (Ach.) Moberg. On
sandy soil in Gomukh area.
Phy:;::ia (Ach.) Vain. (Physciaceae)
50. Physcia adscendens (Fr.) Olivo
in Gomukh area.
51., Pi1yscia caesia (Hoffm.)
Common on rocks from Bhairon
to Gomukh area, rarely on
Betula.
52. Physcia dubia (Hoffm.) Lett: On
in Gomukh area.
53. Physcia gomukhellsis Awasthi
S. Singh, sp. nov. (Figs. 3 & 4).
Thallus foliaceus, orbiculatus,
laciniae adpressae, convexae,
diseretae 0.7-1.5 mm latae,
emaculatae, reticulate-sero
marginibus albociliatae; subtus
cens; rhizinae simplices. Z",i; ..
tatis, cortice superne
matice, inferne prosoplect
Apothecia desunt.
Thallus saxicolous, foliose,
orbicular, ca. 5 cm in diam.,
slate grey, adpressed to the su
sympodially branched, laciniae
1.5 mm wide, 95-171 /Lm thick and
sparse hyaline cilia along the
in older part of the thallus; upper
face smooth to we.akly minutely
tely scrobiculated III older
emaculate, sorediate; soralia
under surface pale brown with
to dark brown simple rhizinae;
cortex paraplectenchymatous, 19-30
thick and with an outer brown
men ted layer; a!gal zone in the
of discontinuous patches, 38-47 (66)
thick, alga green, cells .
4-15 /Lm in diam.;
38-85 /Lm thick; lower cortex proso
tenchymatous (sensu Moberg, 1
upto 35 /Lm thick. Apothecia a
Thallus K + yeHow; medulla

yellow, C-, KC-, P-.
Zeorin present (TLC).
144
Indian Journal of Forestry 1: 138-146, 1978
54.

58.
:59.
FLORA OF GANGOTRI AND GOMUKH
Uttar Pradesh, . Uttarkashi district,
Gomukh .area, right bank, between 3rd
and 4th moraine, alt. ca. 38 10m, on
bouldeT, July 3, 1976, D.D. Awasthi
and S.R. Singh, 8452 :
AWAS).
This species resembles Physcia caesia
(Hoffm.) Hampe in the 'nature of capi-
tate soralia but differs from that in the
presence of whitish cilia along the
margins and minute reticulate scrobi-
cuJatLm on the surface, which are
more distinct under lens in the central
part" of thallus.
Physcia phaea (Tuck.) Thoms. On
boulders from Gangotri to Gomukh
area.
Physcia stellaris (L.) Ny!. One of the
common corticolous species fcom
Bhairon Ghati to Gomukh area.
Physconia Poelt (Physciaceae)
Physconia detersa (Nyl.) Poelt. Common
on bark and on mossy soil from Bhairon
Ghati to Gomukh area.
Physconia enteroxantha (Nyl.) Poelt. On
mossy soil halfway to Gangotri from
Bhairon G hati. No. 8178.
Physconia muscigella (Ach.) Poelt.
Common on soil along with mosses
from Bhairon Ghati to Gomukh area,
Nos. '. 8199, 8303, 8390, 8445, 8507,
8520, 8577.
Physconia perisidiosa (Erich.) Moberg.
Thallus foliose, small, greyish brown,
irregularly lobed, lobes short, 1-2.5 mm
wide, marginally sorediate; soralia lip
shaped, in older lobes soredia become
isidioid and get aggregated on- tf e
lamina; under side dark brown to black
with black, squarrose rhizinae;" tips
of lobes decorticate on lower side;
I
upper cortex scleroplectenchymatous;
medulla white, K -; lower cortex proso-
plectenchymatous. Apothecia rare; spo-
res brown, bicelled Physconia' type,
24-42 X 15-27"!Lm in size. Thallus
and medulla' both K-. Atranorin
absent. On mossy soil at 4 km from
Bhairon Ghati to Gangotri. The taxon
is so far known from Europe.
Ramalina Ach. (Usneaceae)
60. Ramalina farinacea (L.) Ach. On bark
in Chirbasa area.
*61. Ramalina intermedia (Del.) Del.
Thallus small yellowish, much branched,
flattened and .. finely divided towards
apices, with numerous small soralia
irregularly spreading over adjacent areas.
Sora1i<\ P-, Thallus K-, C-, KC-, P-.
This taxon is distmgUIshed from Rama-
lina farinacea by finely divided apices
of thallus and coarsely granular soredia.
This species is so far known from
Europe, America' and Australia. On
bark and mossy soil beyond Chirbasa
and in moraines 'near Gomukh.
62Y Ramalina iinensis Jatta. Common on
bark from Bhairon Ghati to Gomukh
area.
Stereocaulon Schreb. "(S tcreocaulaceae)
63. Stereocaulon foliolosum Nyl. On sandy
soil in ledges of boulders in moraines
in Gomukh area.
64. Stereocaulon myriocarpum Th. Fr.
Common and, densely growing in ledges
in the older moraines in Gomukh area
mostly well fertile.
Thamnolia Ach. (Usneaceae)
65. Thamnolia subuIi{ormis (Ehrh.) W. Culb.
(Syn. Thamnolia subvermicularis Asah).
On ground in older moraines in
below boulders in association with'"
Cornicularia, Slereocaulon etc.
66. \/Tlwmnolia vermicularis (Sw.) Ach. ex
Schaer. On ground. in older moraines
III ledges below bou!ders in association
145
Indian Journal of Forestry 1: 138-146, 1978
INDIAN JOURNAL OF FORESTRY
with Cornieularia, Stereocaulon, Cetraria
sp. .
Umilicaria Hoffm. em Frey (Umbilic-
ariaceae).
67. Umbilicaria pustulata (L.) Hoffm. Rare
on boulders in Chirbasa area.
Umbilicaria vel/ea (L.) Ach. em Frey.
Common on boulders from Gangotri
to Gomukh.
69. Umbilicaria virginis Scha,er. Frequent
on boulders from Bhojbasa to Gomukh
area.
Usnea Wigg. em Ach. (Usneaceae)
70. Usnea peetinata Tay!. Common on bark
from Bhairon Ghati to Chirbasa.
N.B. Certain other specimens of Usnea
are under study.
Xanthoria Th. Fr. (Teloschistaceae)
71. Xanthoria cfr. aureola (Ach.) Erich. f.
congranulala (Cromb.) Erich. Rare, in
Gomukh area.
'j)t:"" Xalllhoria candelaria (L.) Kickx. Rare
on rock between 'Bhairon Ghati to
Gangotri.
13. Xlnthoria jal/ax (Hepp.) Arn. (Syn.
Xalllhuriu subsle/laris (Ach.) Vain.)
Common on bark. between Bhairon
Ghati and Gangotri.
14. Xal11horia clegans (Link) Th. Fr. Very
common in the Gomukh area, forming
sm.llLlO large circular patches on the
rocks and boulders.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are thankful to the Director
,
ilaciology Division Circle Lucknow),
ieoiogical Survey of for the facilities
frovided .to collect lichens in a collaborative
6ientific programme. One (S. R.S.) of the
authors is thankful to the University Grant
. .
Commission, New Delhi for the award of tht
Teacher Fe1l9wship to him under the FacultJ
Improvement Programme enabling him tt
carry out the above investigations.
Addendum
Parmelia halei Awasthi, that was describec
QY Awasthi (1976) was later discovered to be
homonym of Parmelia halei Ahti (I 966). There-
fore the following correction is proposed.
Parmelia mussooriensis Awasthi, nom. nov.
halei Awas. BioI. Memoirs, Lucknow
1: 175, 1976 non P. halei Ahti.
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isidiate and non sorediate corticolous lichens
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Awasthi, D.O. 1976. Lichen genus Parmelia in
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Dahl, E. & Krog. H 1973. Macrolichens of Den-
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1185.
Esslinger, T.L. 1977. A chemosystematic revision
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Moberg, R. 1977. The lichen genus Physcia and
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Poelt, J. 1961. Flechten aus dem NW Karakorum.
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- 1968. Flechten aus dem Norc'ostlichen Afgha-
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481-500.
Swinscow, T.D. V. and Krog, H. 1976. The genera
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Wetmore, C.M. 1960. The lichen genus N.!phroma
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146
Indian Journal of Forestry 1: 138-146, 1978