Lepraria lobificans Nyl.

Bajpai, Rajesh, Upreti, D. K. & Nayaka, Sanjeeva, 2018, The lichen genera Lepraria (Stereocaulaceae) and Leprocaulon (Leprocaulaceae) in India, Phytotaxa 356 (2), pp. 101-116 : 109

16. Lepraria lobificans Nyl.

Thallus leprose, cottony to powdery, soft, green to light grey, margin diffuse; lobes weakly developed; medulla present, thick, white; hypothallus rarely present, scarce, pale brown; soredia loosely packed, variably size, abundant, fine, up to 60 μm diam., projecting hyphae present, long; consoredia abundant, up to 100(–200) μm.

Chemistry: Atranorin, stictic acid complex and zeorin. K+ yellow, C−, KC−, Pd+ orange.

Ecology and Distribution: The species is cosmopolitan, found growing over bark, rock, on mosses and various other substrata. In India the species grows abundantly over rock, bark, soil and mosses and over other lichen species between altitudes of 500–3000 m.

According to Lendemer (2013) the epithet L. lobificans has been misunderstood and wrongly applied to L. finkii . Lepraria lobificans is the correct name for L. santosii Argüello & A. Crespo based on morphology and chemistry. The species is not present in North America. The Indian specimens mostly belong to L. lobificans as per morphological, anatomical and chemical characteristics. We agree with Lendemer (2013) but, without molecular data it is very difficult to diffferentiate between these species. Therefore, a braod concept of L. lobificans is used here. There is a need for molecular studies in near future to solve the species complex.

Specimens examined: HIMACHAL PRADESH: Chamba district, Chamba around Joth, alt 2000 m, on Cedrus , 17-05-2001, Upreti DK & Nayaka S 01-075549, Hamirpur district, Tirasujan, Jean Nala, alt 500 m, on rock, 06-04- 2003, Upreti & Party 03-001446, 03-001496, Kangra district, Palampur, near Holt alt 1000 m, on rock, 23-04-2010, Khare R & Mohabe S 10-014268; Macleodganj, alt 1700 m on Quercus , 13-05-2001, Upreti DK & Nayaka S 01- 075244, Solan district, Kanda Ghat, Kalli ghat, alt 1555 m, on rock over mosses 01-12-2000, 20-085772, alt 1620 m, on Quercus , 01-12-2000, Nayaka S 20-085716, Shilly Wildlife Sanctuary, alt 1435 m, on rock, 3-012-2000, Nayaka S 20-086681, alt 2000 m, on soil, 02-12-2000, Nayaka S 20-086628, 20-086611, on mosses, 20-086653, Chail Wildlife Sanctuary, alt 2000 m, on Cedrus , 2-12-2000, Nayaka S 20-086637,20-086626,20-086638,20-086614, Kandaghat, Koel, alt 1680 m, on Quercus , 01-12-2000, Nayaka S 20-085720; Shimla district, near Chaupal near Rankyar alt 2000 m, on soil, 06-05-2002, Nayaka S & Srivastava R 02-077708, 02-077731, Kufri towards Chini bunglow, alt 2800 m, on soil, 10-05-2002, Nayaka S & Srivastava R 02-077793, Sirmaur district, Rajgarh, omvan alt 1400 m, on rock, 29-06- 2000, Chattergee S & Party 20-05648, 20-065674, Habba reserve forest, 30-06-2000, on Cedrus, Chaterjee S & Party 20-065689, near om van, alt 1400 m, on rock, 29-06-2000, Chatterjee S & party 20-065700/A, Poanta Sahib, Khara Raserue forest, alt 350 m, on Shorea , 25-06-2000, Chatterjee & Party 20-65444; JAMMU & KASHMIR: Rajouri district, Dhanose, on rock, 07-09-2012, Bhat M, 12-0019608; Srinagar district, Harwan Dachigam National Park, alt 1820 m, on rock, 02-08-2005, Sheikh M 05-006198; KARNATAKA: Chikmaglore district, Kemmannu gundi, alt 1000m, on soil, June 1999, Nayaka S 99-025243, Shimoga district, Agumbe reserve forest, alt 600 m, on bark, 22- 011-2009, Ravi Shankar & Ganapathy S 09-0016259, 09-016264, KERALA: Palghat district, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, alt 800 m, on bark, 14-05-2006, Haridas B 06-009860, on soil, 06-009473, Thrissur district, Vazhachal, Sholoayar Dam, on soil, 28-09-2006, Hariidas B 06-009822; MADHYA PRADESH: Anoopur district, Amarkantak, Kapildhara area, alt, 670 m, on rock, Upreti DK & Party 23-03-2004, 04-002827, Amrakantak forest, Mai ke Bagiya, on rock, 15-05-2010, Prajapati A 10-014049, Amarkanta, on Sizygium 08-05-2010, Prajapati A 10-014048, 3 km from Jwaleshwar, alt 600 m, on rock, Upreti & Party 23-03-2004, 04-002852, Dindori district, Kapildhara forest area, on rock, 09-05-2010, Prajapati A 10-014093, 10-014050, Dindori district, 8 km before Kabir, from Chauradades alt 1480 m, on rock, 06-07-2005, Upreti & Party 05-005715; MAHARASHTRA: Satara district, Mahabaleshwar, Wilson point, alt 1470 m, 26-03-2010, on rock, Bajpai R 10-013983; RAJASTHAN: Sirohi district, Mount Abu, Kodra dam, alt 1263 m, on bark, 24-05-2013, Yadav S 13-031379, Bundi district, Bheemlath water fall, on bark, 11-05-2013, Yadav S 13-031380; TAMILNADU: Madurai district, Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, High ways area alt 1000m, on rock, June 1999, Nayaka S, 99-0068, Nilgiri Doda betta, alt 2465 m, on soil, 17-02-2012, Ingle & Party 12-024810; UTTARAKHAND: Almora district, near Artola on way from Almora to Pithoragarh, alt 1700 m, on rock, May 2009, Upreti DK 09-025391, Almora, alt 1600 m, on soil, 06-11-1982, Pande PC 82-054355; Chamoli district, Lata, Rini near in Dhwli River, alt 2750 m, on bark, Rawat S, & Rawat J 06-011185, Jumma, 19-06-2007, on soil, 07-008684, Badrinath, Mana village, 21-06-2005, on rock, Shukla V & Joshi Y 05-005958, 05-005957, Joshimath, Pauri road, 2351 m, 12-05-2011, on rock over mosses, Rai & Party 11-024239, Champawat district, Kimtoli on way to Lohaghat, 27-11-2010, on bark, 10-015351, Nanital district, near Nishant School on rock, 09-12-2009, Kholia H 09-013727, near Ratan college, alt 2100 m, on soil, 24-12-2009, Kholia H 09-013711, Sinik School road, on Quercus , 09-12-2009, Kholia H 09-013738, Nanital city, way to Beckanbery hall, on soil over mosses, 18-09-2009, Kholia H 09-012008, way to Naina peak, alt 2611 m on Quercus 26-12-2009, Kholia H 09-0013718, Pauri district, Pauri, Kiyonkaleshwar, on Pinus , 24-06-2005, Shukla V & Joshi Y 05-031376, on Cedrus 05-005119, 05-0005134, 24-06-2005, 05-005119, on Quercus 05-005480, on rock, 19-06-2005, 05-005233, 05-005239, on tree trunk 24-06-2005, 05-005321, Srinagar, near Dhari Devi temple, 26-06-2005, on Mangifera , 05-031377, Kothar, on rock, 18-06-2005, Shukla V & Joshi Y 05-005182, on way to Bughani, on rock, 18-06-2005, Shukla V & Joshi Y 05-005199, Pauri garhwal, 23-09-2008, on soil, 08-031378, Khirsu reserve forest, alt 1835 m on soil, 18-01-2011, Rai H 11-0014549, Kandoliya, on rock, 19-06- 2005, Joshi Y & Shukla V 05-004960, 05-004987, on Quercus , 05-004924, on Soil, 05-005331, Srinagar, near Govt Inter College, 18-06-2005, Shukla V & Joshi Y 05-005338, on way to Bhugani, 18-05-2005, Shukla V & Joshi Y on rock, 05-005173, 05-004953, 05-005208, 05-005204, Srinagar near Kothar, on rock, 18-06-2005, Shukla V, & Joshi Y 05-005181, Pithoragarh district, Gangoli Hat, Hat Kali Sacred Groove, alt 1750 m, on soil, May 2009, Singh H 09- 011315, Askot-Sandev Botanical Hot spot, Adichaura area, 14-04-2002, on soil, Pant V 02-0103928, Tehri Garhwal district, near Kemundakhal, alt 2234 m on soil, 05-01-2016, Kumar D; Uttarkashi district, Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, en route to Osal from Taluka, Laturai alt 2229 m, on mosses, 09-06-2012, Upreti DK & Bajpai R, 12-011859.