Floristic Diversity Status Assessment of Lichens from Dima Hasao District, North East, India RESEARCH ARTICLE Floristic Diversity Status Assessment of Lichens from Dima Hasao District, North East, India Gaurav K. Mishra, Sanjeeva Nayaka*, Dalip K. Upreti DOI: 10.18811/ijpen.v5i02.3 A B S T R AC T An enumeration of 142 species of lichens belonging to 60 genera and 27 families from Dima Hasao district in North East region is provided. The present study supplemented 98 species new to the lichen biota of Assam. The study added one new record of basidiolichen [Multiclavula vernalis (Schw.) Petersen] to the lichen biota of India. The lichen genus Graphis with 21 species exhibit its dominance in the area followed by Pyrenula and Parmotrema with nine and eight species respectively. Among the different localities in the area Umrangso towards Khundog showed maximum diversity of lichens represented by 58 species followed by the locality in and around circuit house, represented by 42 species. The dominance of Graphidioid community in the area indicates an evergreen open canopy forest as well as the presence of smooth bark trees in the region. Keywords: Biomonitoring, Distribution, Biodiversity, Basidiolichen. International Journal of Plant and Environment (2019) INTRODUCTION T he Dima Hasao district is mainly hilly ranges with different ecological settings of grassland to high altitude vegetation. The region is also endowed with abundant forest resources with many ethnic products, which are unique to the region. The forest cover of the district is 88.71% of which only 187 km2 (4.31%) is under very dense forest while open forest occupies 61% of the total forest area. The various type of forests throughout the district have tropical evergreen forests, tropical semi-evergreen forests, tropical moist and dry deciduous forests, sub-tropical forests, secondary forests and bamboo forests. The forests canopy of the district also provide excellent habitat for wildlife animals. The district also includes a village Jatinga which is popular as ‘The Bird Mystery’ where large number of migratory birds commits suicide every year. Earlier, the Dima Hasao district was known by the North Cachar Hills district. The forest vegetation is dominated by a number of tree species such as Albizia lebbeck, Castanopsis tribuloides, C. indica, Dillenia indica, Elaeocarpus robustus, E. floribundus, Gmelina arborea, Garcinia pedunculata, Mesuaferrea sp., Mangifera sylvatica, Morus laevigata, Melia composite, Quercus serrata, Syzygium operculatum, Stercularia roxburghii, Schima wallichii, Terminalia citrina, T. ballirica, T. chebula and Turpina pomifera. The lichens of north east region are extensively studied since last three decades and included in different monographic and revisionary studies on Indian lichens. Gupta and Sinha (2018) reported 300 species belonging to 83 genera and 26 families of lichens from the state of Assam, based on earlier published literatures and own. Recently, Gogoi et al. (2019) studied the lichens of Assam and 25 new records of lichens for the state have been added. In spite of floristic studies available in the past, still a number of localities in the district have not yet explored floristically, hence, in the present study an more intensive and systematic attempt has been made to record the floristic diversity of lichens from the unexplored areas of the district. M AT E R I A L S AND METHODS More than 500 lichen specimens growing on different substrates were collected from six forest sites of the present study area 84 CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow-226001 Uttar Pradesh, India. Corresponding author: Dr. Sanjeeva Nayaka, Mobile: +91-8756104655 Email: nayaka.sanjeeva@gmail.com How to cite this article: Mishra, G., K., Nayaka S., Upreti, D. K., Floristic Diversity Status Assessment of Lichens from Dima Hasao District, North East, India. 5(2): 84-91. Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None Submitted: 12/02/2019 Accepted: 30/04/2019 Published: 30/04/2019 (Fig. 1). The specimens were grouped together with details of locality, substrate, ecological notes, date of collection, altitude, name of collector and specimen number. Out of six localities, Dihangi locality experience more human activities for collection of timber wood, fuel wood, fodder and frequent animal grazing. In and around circuit house, Umrangso towards Kopili, Umrangso towards Khundog, Ethonic village and Bara Halflong areas have more or less undisturbed forests due to low human activities. The specimens were studied morphologically, anatomically and chemically. The morphological structures were studied under stereozoom microscope. The anatomical details of the thallus and fruiting bodies were studied in free hand section with water as mounting medium under compound microscope. The chemical substance in the thallus were identified through colour test technique by applying aqueous potassium hydroxide (K), Steiner’s stable paraphenylenediamine (PD) and aqueous calcium hypochlorite (C) reagents. Thin layer chromatography was performed for identification of the lichen substances in solvent system A, following the techniques of Orange et al. (2001). For the authentic identification of different lichen taxa, literatures of Awasthi (1991, 2007); Divakar and Upreti (2005); Nayaka (2004); Upreti (1998); Gupta and Sinha (2018) were consulted. The identified specimens are preserved in the herbarium of CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (LWG). The nomenclature of the identified species was updated based on the modern concept of lichen systematics (Lücking et al., 2016). International Journal of Plant and Environment, Volume 05 Issue 02 (2019) Floristic Diversity Status Assessment of Lichens from Dima Hasao District, North East, India Fig. 1: Map showing collection sites in Dima Hasao district, Assam, India. The species Multiclavula vernalis (Schw.) Peterson (Fig. 2) Basionym: = Clavaria vernalis Schweiniz. 1822. Schr. Nat. Ges. Leipzing 1: 112. Fruiting bodies simple, up to 2 cm high, clavate; creamy to straw orange colour, dull ochraceous orange when dry, then usually with a small white spot at the apex like cap; growing on soil and associated with the algae. Contextual hyphae somewhat parallel, loosely arranged towards the apex of the fruiting body, not agglutinated; short celled, thin to slightly thick-walled. Ascospores not seen. Ecology and distribution The species is widely distributed in North America (Bennett, 2006; Brodo et al., 2001; Nelsen, 2006), Michigan (Fryday et al., 2001), Tasmania (Petersen, 1967; Petersen and Kantvilas, 1986), United State and Canada (Esslinger, 2007; Nelsen, 2006). In India, the species is recorded from tropical area in the state of Assam between altitudes of 500 to 652 m, is a new record for Indian lichen biota. Fig. 2: Habitat of Multiclavula vernalis (Schw.) Peterson with nine genera and 36 species followed by Parmeliaceae with four genera and 13 species. Other lichen families in the study area showed poor representation with a single or two species each. The crustose lichens exhibited their dominance in the area represented by 113 species followed by 14 foliose species and eight species of leprose lichens (Fig. 3). The lichen genus Graphis and Pyrenula with 21 and nine species each and Parmotrema with eight species showed the maximum diversity in the district. A total 40 genera shows poor diversity in the area as represented by a single or two species each. The study area shows dominance of bark loving lichen species (Corticolous) with 138 species followed by soil inhabiting (terricolous) lichens with four species. Diorygma soozanum (Zahlbr.) M. Nakan. & Kashiw, Parmotrma tinctorum (Despr. ex Nyl.) Hale, P. reticulatum (Taylor) M. Choisy and Trypethelium eluteriae Spreng., are the most commonly occurring taxa in the study area. Among the six localities Umrangso towards Khundog area exhibit the maximum diversity of lichens, represented by 57 species followed by area in and around circuit house, Ethonic Specimen examined India, Assam, Dima Hasao district, Umrangso, alt. 500-652 m, on soil, 06.05.2017, D.K. Upreti, R. Verma & B.A. Khan 17-033657 (LWG). R E S U LT AND DISCUSSION The identification of all the specimens collected resulted into the occurrence of 142 species belonging to 60 genera and 27 families (Table 1) including one basidiolichen. The study added 98 species new to the lichen biota of Assam, in which, crustose are dominant with 76 species followed by foliose, fruticose, leprose, dimorphic and squamulose with eight, one, eight, four, two species respectively. The lichen family Graphidaceae exhibits its dominance Fig. 3: Different growth forms and their number in the district. International Journal of Plant and Environment, Volume 05 Issue 02 (2019) 85 Floristic Diversity Status Assessment of Lichens from Dima Hasao District, North East, India villege, Bara Halflong with 41, 35 and 34 species respectively (Fig. 4). The Dihangi and Umrangso towards Kopili areas have higher anthropogenic activities, thus showing poor diversity of lichens. Most of the localities in Umrangso towards Kopili and Khundog sites exhibit dominance of Castanopsis indica and Dillenia indica trees. Both trees provided suitable habitat for different taxa of lichens to colonize on their trunk and branches. The site from Umrangso towards Khundog exhibit rich diversity of pyrenocarpous lichens with seven species followed by the Ethnic village locality with four species. Similar to studies carried out by Rout et al. (2010) and Dey et al. (2015) in the nearby regions of the state of Assam which also exhibit rich diversity of pyrenocarpous and graphidaceous lichens indicating an evergreen vegetation with abundance of smooth barked trees. Fig. 4: Lichens diversity in different localities of the district. Table 1: The list of lichens taxa recorded in Dima Hasao district, Assam. Localities 86 SN Lichens taxa Family 1 2 3 4 5 6 Selected specimens number 1 *Amandinea submontana Marbach Caliciaceae + - - - - - 17-033605 Cr 2 *Anthracothecium interlatens (Nyl.) Aptroot Pyrenulaceae - + + - - - 17-033988, 17-033985 Cr 3 A. macrosporum (Hepp.) Müll. Arg. - + - - + 17-033910, 17-033915 Cr 4 *Bacidia alutacea (Kremp.) Zahlbr. - - - - - + 17-033643 Cr 5 *B. nigrofusca (Müll. Arg.) Zahlbr. - - - - + - 17-033899 Cr 6 B. rubella (Hoffm.) Massal. - - - - + + 17-033601, 17-033602 Cr 7 *Baculifera entochlora (J. Steiner) Marbach Caliciaceae + - - - - - 17-033992 Cr 8 *Blastenia herbidella (Arnold) Servít Teloschistaceae - - - - + - 17-029681 Cr 9 Bulbothrix isidiza (Nyl.) Hale Parmeliaceae + + - + - - 17-033964, 17-033961, 17-033976 Fo 10 *B. setschwanensis (Zahlbr.) Hale - - + - - - 17-033991 Fo 11 *B. tabacina (Mont. & Bosch) Hale + - + - - + 17-033821, 17-033963, 17-033962 Fo 12 *Calicium robustellum Nyl. Caliciaceae - - + - - - 17-033768 Cr 13 *Caloplaca kashmirensis Y. Joshi & Upreti Teloschistaceae + - - - + - 17-029684, 17-029666 Cr 14 *Canoparmelia pustulescens (Kurok.) Elix Parmeliaceae + - - - - - 17-033890 Fo Ramalinaceae International Journal of Plant and Environment, Volume 05 Issue 02 (2019) GF Floristic Diversity Status Assessment of Lichens from Dima Hasao District, North East, India 15 *Chapsa discoides (Stirt.) Lücking 16 *C. leprocarpa (Nyl.) Frisch 17 *Chiodecton andamanicum Jagad. Ram 18 Thelotremataceae + - - - - - 17-033906 Cr + - - - - - 17-033891 Cr - + - - - - 17-033698 Cr *C. congestulum Nyl. - - + - - - 17-033907 Cr 19 *C. leptosporum Müll. Arg. - - + - - - 17-033908 Cr 20 Chrysothrix sp. Chrysotrichaceae + - - - + - 17-033768, 17-033767 Le 21 *Cladonia fruticulosa Kremp. Cladoniaceae - - + - - - 17-033802 Di 22 *C. scabriuscula (Delise) Nyl. - + + - - - 17-033806, 17-033808 Di 23 *C. subradiata (Vain.) Sandst. - - + - - - 17-033803 Di 24 *C. verticillata (Hoffm.) Schaer. - - + - - - 17-033799 Di 25 Cratiria obscurior (Stirt.) Marbach & Kalb Caliciaceae + - - - + - 17-033898 Cr 26 *Cryptothecia awasthii Makhija & Patw. Arthoniaceae - + - - - - 17-031350 Le 27 *C. albomaculans Jagadeesh and G. P. Sinha - - - + - - 17-031360 Le 28 *C. albomaculatella Aptroot & Wolseley + - - - + + 17-033809 Le 29 *C. farinosa Jagadeesh, G. P. Sinha & Kr. P. Singh - + - - - - 17-031341 Le 30 *C. stirtonii A. L. Sm - + - - - - 17-031344 Le 31 C. striata G. Thor - + - - - - 17-031346 Le 32 *C. verruculifera Jagadeesh, G. P. Sinha & Kr. P. Singh - - - - + - 17-031361 Le 33 Diorygma hieroglyphicellum Sutjar. & Kalb. - + + - - - 17-033954, 17-032087 Cr 34 D. junghuhnii (Mont. & Bosch) Kalb, Staiger & Elix - - + + + - 17-033951 Cr 35 *D. soozanum (Zahlbr.) M. Nakan. & Kashiw. + + + - + - 17-033933, 17-033766 Cr 36 Dirinaria applanata (Fée) D.D. Awasthi + - + - + - 17-033866, 17-033869, 17-033865 Cr 37 D. consimilis (Stirt.) D.D. Awasthi - - - - - + 17-033867 Cr 38 D. picta (Sw.) Clem. & Shear - + + - - - 17-033868, 17-033870 Cr 39 Dyplolabia afzelii (Ach.) A. Massal. Graphidaceae - - - - - + 17-033630 Cr 40 *Enterographa compunctula (Nyl.) Redinger Roccellaceae + - - - + - 17-033766 Cr Roccellaceae Graphidaceae Caliciaceae International Journal of Plant and Environment, Volume 05 Issue 02 (2019) 87 Floristic Diversity Status Assessment of Lichens from Dima Hasao District, North East, India 41 *Fissurina cingalina (Nyl.) Staiger 42 - - + + - + 17-033792, 17-033793, 17-032090 Cr F. dumastii Fée + - - - - - 17-033790 Cr 43 Glyphis cicatricose Ach. - - - + - + 17-033839, 17-033660 Cr 44 *Graphidastra byssiseda (Müll. Arg.) G. Thor Roccellaceae - - + - - - 17-033661 Cr 45 *Graphis albissima Müll. Arg. Graphidaceae - + - - - - 17-033902 Cr 46 *G. ajarekarii Patw. & C. R. Kulk. - - - - - + 17-033756 Cr 47 *G. aquilonia (A.W. Archer) Staiger - - - + - - 17-033816 Cr 48 *G. arecae Vain. + - - - - - 17-033835 Cr 49 G. caesiella Vain. - - - - + - 17-033834 Cr 50 *G. caesiocarpa Redinger - - - - + - 17-033742 Cr 51 G. capillacea Strit - - - - + - 17-033750 Cr 52 *G. duplicata Ach. - + + - - - 17-033658, 17-033659 Cr 53 *G. elongata Zenker + - - + - - 17-033836/B, 17-033744 Cr 54 *G. insulana (Müll. Arg.) Lücking & Sipman - - - - + + 17-033825, 17-032094 Cr 55 G. librata C. Knight + - - - + + 17-032100, 17-032096, 17-032095 Cr 56 G. lineola Ach. + - + - - + 17-033826, 17-033613 Cr 57 *G. nigrocarpa Adaw. & Makhija - + - - - - 17-033769 Cr 58 *G. pinicola Zahlbr. + - - - + - 17-033830, 17-032098 Cr 59 *G. rimulosa (Mont.) Trevis. - - + - - - 17-033699 Cr 60 G. scripta (L.) Ach. - - - - + + 17-033829, 17-033700 Cr 61 *G. striatula (Ach.) Spreng. - - - - - + 17-033749 Cr 62 G. subasahinae Nagarkar & Patw. - + - - - - 17-033903 Cr 63 *G. submarginata Lücking - - - - - + 17-033902 Cr 64 *G. subregularis A.W. Archer - - + - - - 17-033775/A Cr 65 G. tenella Ach. - - - + + + 17-033827, 17-034603, 17-032093 Cr 66 Gyalolechia bassiae (Ach.) Søchting, Frödén & Arup ex Ahti Teloschistaceae - - + - - - 17-029688 Cr 67 *Haematomma puniceum (Ach.) A. Massal. Haematommataceae + - + - - - 17-033608, 17-033653 Cr 68 *Hemithecium epixanthum (Mont. & Bosch) Chitale & Makhija Graphidaceae - - - + - - 17-033776 Cr 69 Herpothallon granulare (Sipman) Aptroot & Lücking H. philippinum (Vain.) Aptroot & Lücking Arthoniaceae + - - - - - 17-033810 Cr + - - - + - 17-033812, 17-033813 Cr 70 88 Graphidaceae International Journal of Plant and Environment, Volume 05 Issue 02 (2019) Floristic Diversity Status Assessment of Lichens from Dima Hasao District, North East, India 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 *Heterodermia albidiflava (Kurok.) D.D. Awasthi H. diademata (Taylor) D.D. Awasthi *Hyperphyscia adglutinata var. pyrithrocardia (Müll. Arg.) D.D. Awasthi *H. minor (Fée) Kalb. *Lathagrium auriforme (With.) Otálora, P.M. Jørg. & Wedin *Lecanora austrointumescens Lumbsch & Elix *Lecidella elaeochroma (Ach.) M. Choisy *Lepra albescens (Huds.) Hafellner *Leptogium chloromelum (Ach.) Nyl. L. flavocrocea (Nyl.) Hafellner & Bellem. *L. transgressa (Malme) Hafellner & Bellem Letrouitia flavocrocea (Nyl.) Hafellner & Bellem L. transgressa (Malme) Hafellner & Bellem *L. vulpine (Tuck.) Hafellner & Bellem. *Lopadium leucoxanthum (Spreng.) Zahlbr. *Malmidea papillosa Weerakoon & Aptroot M. granifera (Ach.) Kalb, Rivas Plata & Lumbsch Micarea spp. *Mikhtomia flavorubescens (Huds.) S.Y. Kondr. & J.-S. Hur *M. gordejevii (Tomin) S. Y. Kondr., Kärnefelt, Elix, A. Thell **Multiclavula vernalis (Schw.) Petersen Myriotrema microporum (Mont.) Hale *M. rugiferum (Harm.) Hale *Nigrovothelium bullatum Lücking, Upreti & Lumbsch *N. tropicum (Ach.) Lücking, M.P. Nelsen & Aptroot *Pallidogramme bengalense B.O. Sharma & Khadilkar *P. chapadana (Redinger) Staiger, Kalb. & Lücking P. chlorocarpoides (Nyl.) Staiger, Kalb & Lücking *P. chrysenterodes (Nyl.) Kr.P. Singh & Swarnal. P. chrysenteron (Mont.) Staiger, Kalb & Lücking Physciaceae - - - - + - 17-033617 Cr + - + + + - Cr - - + - - - 17-033614, 17-033618, 17-033611 17-033654 Collemataceae + - - + - - - 17-033610 17-033888 Cr Cr Lecanoraceae + - + - + - Cr - + - - - - 17-033882, 17-033880, 17-033877 17-033845 - - + - + + - - 17-033641 17-033993 17-029667 Cr Cr Cr - + - - - - 17-033926 Cr - - - + - - 17-029667 Cr - + - - - - 17-033925 Cr Lopadiaceae - + + - + - - 17-033854 17-033927 Cr Cr Malmideaceae - + + + - - Cr - - - + - - 17-033848, 17-033990, 17-033849 17-033847 - - - - + - + 17-033732 17-029690 Cr Cr - - - - - + 17-029679 Cr Clavulinaceae - - + - - - 17-033657 Cr Graphidaceae - - + + - + - - 17-033664 17-033663 17-033650 Cr Cr Cr - - - + - + 17-033648 Cr - - + - - - 17-033775 Cr - - + - - - 17-033780 Cr - - + + - + 17-033778 Cr - - + - - - 17-033781 Cr + - - - - - 17-033773 Cr Pertusariaceae Collemataceae Letrouitiaceae Pilocarpaceae Teloschistaceae Trypetheliaceae Graphidaceae International Journal of Plant and Environment, Volume 05 Issue 02 (2019) Cr Cr Cr 89 Floristic Diversity Status Assessment of Lichens from Dima Hasao District, North East, India 90 101 Parmotrema austrosinense (Zahlbr.) Hale 102 Parmeliaceae + - + - - + 17-033673, 17-033672, 17-033606 Fo *P. cooperi (J. Steiner & Zahlbr.) Sërus. + - - + - - 17-033820, 17-033815 Fo 103 *P. hababianum (Gyeln.) Hale - - - + - - 17-033671 Fo 104 P. praeserediosum (Nyl.) Hale - - - + - - 17-033757 Fo 105 *P. reticulatum (Taylor) M. Choisy + + + + - - 17-033675 Fo 106 P. sancti-angelii (Lynge ) Hale - - - - + - 17-033670 Fo 107 P. tinctorum (Despr. ex Nyl.) Hale + + + + + + 17-033676, 17-033677 Fo 108 P. zollingeri (Hepp) Hale + - - - - - 17-033607 Fo 109 *Pertusaria albescens (Huds.) M. Choisy & Werner - - + - - - 17-033641 Cr 110 *P. granulate (Eschw.) Müll. Arg. - - + - - - 17-033640 Cr 111 *P. leioplacella Nyl. + + + - - - 17-033636, 17-033639, 17-033638 Cr 112 *P. maculate Kr. P. Singh & G.P. Sinha - - - + - - 17-033645 Cr 113 *P. punctata Nyl. - - - + - - 17-033646 Cr 114 *P. rigida Müll. Arg. - - - + - - 17-033644 Cr 115 *P. subochracea Stirt. - - + - - - 17-033637 Cr 116 *Phaeographis caesiodisca Staiger Graphidaceae - - + - - - 17-033973 Cr 117 *Phaeophyscia endococcina (Körb.) Moberg Physciaceae - - - - + - 17-033995 Fo 118 P. hispidula (Ach.) Essl. - - - - + - 17-033844 Fo 119 *Phlyctis karnatakana S. Joshi & D.K. Upreti - - + - - - 17-033656 Cr 120 *P. himalayensis (Nyl.) D.D. Awasthi - - + - - - 17-033767 Cr 121 *Phyllopsora corallina (Eschw.) Müll. Arg. + - + + - + 17-033887, 17-03385, 17-033884, 17-033886 Sq 122 *P. furfuracea (Pers.) Zahlbr. + - - - - - 17-033883, 17-033885 Sq 123 *Physcia dubia (Hoffm.) Lettau - - + - - - 17-033655 Cr 124 *P. tribacioides Nyl. + - - - - - 17-033996 Cr 125 *Platythecium dimorphodes (Nyl.) Staiger Graphidaceae - - + - - - 17-033779 Cr 126 *Polymeridium suffusum (C. Knight) Aptroot Trypetheliaceae - - + - - - 17-033609 Cr 127 *Pseudocyphellaria aurata (Ach.) Vain. Lobariaceae - - + - - - 17-033997 Cr 128 *Pyrenula andina Aptroot Pyrenulaceae + - + - - - 17-033980, 17-033983 Cr 129 P. arthoniotheca Upreti - - - - + - 17-033972 Cr 130 P. brunnea Fée - + - - - - 17-033921 Cr 131 P. complanata (Mont.) Trevis. - - - + - - 17-033971 Cr 132 *P. oculata Ajay Singh & Upreti - - + - - - 17-033918 Cr 133 *P. ravenelii (Tuck.) R. C. Harris - - - - + - 17-033724 Cr 134 P. quassiicola Fée - + + + - - 17-033989, 17-033969, 17-033919 Cr 135 *P. subducta (Nyl.) Müll. Arg. - - - + - + 17-033968, 17-033970 Cr 136 *P. mastophoroides (Nyl.) Zahlbr - - - + + - 17-033923, 17-033922 Cr Pertusariaceae Phlyctidaceae Ramalinaceae Physciaceae International Journal of Plant and Environment, Volume 05 Issue 02 (2019) Floristic Diversity Status Assessment of Lichens from Dima Hasao District, North East, India 137 *Ramboldia haematites (Fée) Kalb, Lumbsch & Elix Ramboldiaceae - - + - - - 17-033920 Cr 138 *Sarcographa subtricosa (Leight.) Müll. Arg. Graphidaceae + - + - - - 17-032091, 17-033838 Cr 139 *Stigmatochroma adauctum (Malme) Marbach Caliciaceae + - + - - - 17-033999, 17-033765 Cr 140 *Thecaria austroindica (D.D. Awasthi & Upreti) Kr.P. Singh & G.P. Sinha Graphidaceae + - - + + + 17-033621, 17-033626, 17-033635, 17-033627 Cr 141 Trypethelium eluteriae Spreng. Trypetheliaceae + + - + - + 17-033697 Cr 142 *Usnea pectinata Stirt. Parmeliaceae - - + - - - 17-034601 Fr Abbreviations: GF: Growth Form, +: Present, -: Absent, Cr: Crustose, Di: Dimorphic, Fo: Foliose, Fr: Fruticose, Le: Leprose; *New record for Assam state. **New record for country (basidiolichen) Localities: 1: In and around circuit house, 2: Umrangso towards Kopili, 3: Umrangso towards Khundog, 4: Ethonic village, 5: Bara Halflong, 6: Dihangi C O N C LU S I O N The present study added 98 species to the lichen biota of Assam which includes Multiclavula vernalis as new record, dimorphic and fruticose species which were absent in earlier reports. The occurrence of 142 species within a geographically small area clearly indicates the richness of lichens. The extensive survey of lichens in the district will definitely contribute more taxa to the lichen flora of the region and the present enumeration of lichens will act as a baseline data for carrying out future lichen resource survey related to biomonitoring studies. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Authors are thankful to the Director, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow for providing facilities and also thankful to Assam State Biodiversity Board and Dr. L.B. Chaudhary, Sr. Principal Scientist at CSIR-NBRI, Lucknow for their cooperation during the field work. One of the authors GKM would like to thanks to the Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi for award of N-PDF (PDF/2017/000356) and Mr. Prashant Behara for photography. REFERENCES Awasthi, D.D. 1991. A key to the microlichens of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Biblioth. Lichenol. 40: 1-337. Awasthi, D.D. 2007. 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