New Lichen Species Found in Mathikettan Shola National Park

Buellia maharajensis, a new saxicolous lichen species, was discovered in Mathikettan Shola National Park in Idukki district, Kerala. The species was recorded at an elevation of about 1,351 metres and was named in tribute to Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, on its 150th anniversary.

Lichens as a Biological Group

Lichens are composite organisms formed by a symbiotic association between a fungus and a photosynthetic partner, usually an alga or cyanobacterium. They grow on rocks, tree bark, soil, and other surfaces, and saxicolous lichens are those that grow directly on rock surfaces.

Mathikettan Shola National Park

Mathikettan Shola National Park is a protected area in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The park lies near Santhanpara in Idukki district and contains shola forest ecosystems, which are montane evergreen forests found in high-altitude valleys of the southern Western Ghats.

Research Team and Publication

The discovery was made by a five-member research team associated with Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, the Kerala Forest Research Institute, and the CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow. The findings were published in the international botany journal Taiwania.

Important Facts for Exams

• Mathikettan Shola National Park is located in Idukki district in Kerala.
• Buellia is a genus of lichens in the family Caliciaceae.
• Shola forests occur mainly in the higher reaches of the Western Ghats.
• Lichen diversity is often used as an indicator of habitat quality and air conditions.

Biodiversity Survey Findings

The wider biodiversity survey in the park documented about 250 lichen species. The survey also recorded 60 species for the first time in Kerala and 15 species as new records for India.

Protected Forest Ecosystem

Mathikettan Shola National Park has a legally protected forest ecosystem under India’s national park framework. Protected areas in India are governed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.