Abstract
A total of 140 lichen species belonging to 50 genera and 23 families with 39 species recorded for the first time from the state of Manipur, Northeast India, being reported. Fourteen species are new additions to the lichen flora of Northeast India. The crustose morphotype (49% of the species found) dominated the area, followed by foliose (43%), dimorphic, fruticose, leprose and squamulose lichens, each contributing by 4%, 2%, 1% and 1% of the species found, respectively. Nine species of phorophytic foliicolous lichens that usually colonize live leaves were also encountered. The occurrence of foliicolous lichens is quite characteristic of species diversity and indicate rather high richness in this relatively small phytogeographical area. A brief note on the phytogeographic affinities and distribution of the newly recorded lichens in Manipur has been provided.
Fig.1 -Map of Manipur state showing the study sites
with only a few other sporadic reports (Awasthi 1960 , 1987 , Singh 1980 , 1981a , 1981b , 1983 , Patwardhan & Nagarkar 1982 , Singh & Upreti 1986 , 1990 , 1993 have appeared, the last one by Singh & Pinokiyo in 2003 . Following rapid urbanisation and anthropogenic activities in the recent past, and as a sequel to our continued effort to assess the lichen flora from Northeast India, 39 new species of lichens, are reported from the State of Manipur as first records. Also, fourteen of these species are completely new to the entire Northeast India region.
Materials & Methods
This study is based on more than 1100 specimens of lichens collected from twenty localities of Manipur State (23°83ʹ -25°68ʹ N and 93°03ʹ -94°78ʹ E), located in the Northeast part of India (Fig. 1) . The specimens were collected from different substrata such as barks, twigs, rocks, soil and leaves. Trees (Bauhinia purpurea, Castanopsis hystrix, Ficus bengalensis, Mangifera indica, Magnolia pterocarpa, and Quercus lamellose) exhibit luxuriant growth of lichens. The identification of the specimens was done by studying their morphology, anatomy and chemistry. The morphology was studied using a LaboMed Digi Zoom dissecting microscope, and the anatomical details were studied using a Leica TM DM 500 optical microscope. Colour tests were performed using KOH (K), calcium hypochlorite (C) and para-phenylenediamine (P) solution. Secondary metabolites were identified by thin layer chromatography (TLC) as described by Walker & James (1980) . The chromatograms were done in solvent system A (toluene: dioxane: acetic acid: 
Results
The composition of the lichen flora of the Manipur State was studied and species richness is expressed as alpha-diversity (α) totalling 140 species belonging to 50 genera and 23 families ( Table 1 ). The crustose morphotype (49% of the total species found) was most dominant followed by the foliose (43%), the dimorphic, fruticose, leprose and squamulose morphotypes, each contributing 4%, 2%, 1% and 1%, respectively.
Results
Nine species belonging to a special group of phorophytic lichens that usually colonize live leaves, also known as foliicolous lichens, were also encountered. Species richness was remarkably denoted by the presence of about 75-85 foliicolous lichens colonies on a single leaf. A few foliicolous lichens were also found inhabiting the leaves of orchids and of Ferula asafoetida (Hing) planted in preservation plot for educational purposes at an ex-situ Orchid Preservation Centre, Khongampat located near the capital town of Imphal of Manipur State, Northeast India. However, these were at a very young stage and hence could not be identified.
Discussion
The occurrence of fewer fruticose lichens in the area is due relatively poor light conditions in almost all the study sites. Appropriate light conditions are a pre-requisite for luxuriant growth of foliose and fruticose lichens (James et al. 1977 , Broad 1989 . Wolseley & Pryor (1999) reported that fruticose lichens are light sensitive and are typically associated with the canopy environment, explicitly twigs and branches and indeed, are often referred to as light demanding lichens.
Discussion
Based on the annotated checklist of Singh & Sinha (2010) and recent publications on new records of lichens of Northeast India (Rout et al. 2010 , Daimari et al. 2014 , Devi et al. 2013 Upreti et al. 2014 , Logesh et al. 2015 , 39 species belonging to 21 genera and 14 families have been listed as new addition to lichen flora of Manipur. Of these, 14 species are new to Northeast India.
Discussion
Phytogeographic affinities and distribution of the newly recorded lichens in Manipur is also furnished. Distribution -L. pseudopapillosum was previously reported from Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand, and is a new report to Manipur.
Discussion
Specimens examined -India, Manipur, Senapati, Sadu Chiru, 1066 m, 24 Mar 2015 

{'paper_id': '88723359', 'title': 'New records of lichens from Manipur State, North-eastern India', 's2_url': 'https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:88723359', 'source': 'S2ORC'}