Allographa

Allographa Latest News

Recently, a team of researchers has unveiled five new species of lichen-forming fungi belonging to the genus Allographa. 

About  Allographa

• It is a genus of script lichens or lichen-forming fungi (a fungus that teams up with algae or cyanobacteria to create a lichen) with elongated fruiting bodies in the family Graphidaceae.
• It has more than 200 species and in India these Allographa species are limited, particularly from the Western Ghats.
• Ecological Role: These are highly sensitive to pollution, climate shifts and habitat disturbance, making them reliable indicators of ecosystem health.
• The recently discovered five new Allographa species from Western Ghats are: Allographa keralensis,  A. paraconsanguinea; A. persistinspersa and A. semicarbonisata. 

What are Lichens?

• Lichens are not just one organism but two (sometimes more) living in intimate symbiosis: a fungus that offers structure and protection, and a photobiont (usually a green alga or cyanobacterium) that captures sunlight and makes food.
• Ecological Significance:  Lichens play critical roles in ecosystems, building soil, feeding insects and serving as nature’s bioindicators.

Source: PIB

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