Lichens
By Dr.Drona pokhrel
• Term lichen was used by :theopharstus .
• Lichens are symbiotic or mutalism realation between alga
(phycobiont and fungus (mycobiont ),forms thallus distinct from
either of partners .
• Also described as holotism (master and slave ) or consortism
(husband and wife )
• Main mycobont is ascomycetes And rarely basidiomycetes .
• Common phycobiont is chlrophyceaeand cynophyceae
Ascolichen and basidiolichen
• Most of the lichens are : ascolichen
• Fungal partner in ascolichen is ascomycetes and algal partner is green
algae.
• Most common green algae in forming lichen :Trebauxia
Crustose lichen (crust like )
• Cortex is inseparable from the thallus .
• Thallus attached to rock is :saxicolous
• Thallus attached to bark :corticolous.
• Thallus attached to wood : lignicolous
• Eg:Graphis ,Dermatocarpon ,Rhizocarpon
Lecanora
Foliose lichens (leaf like )
• Flattened thallus attached to substratum by rhizines or umbilicus .
• Can be separated from substratum.
• Eg:parmelia ,physia,peltigera .
Fructicose lichen (herb like)
• Much branched or lobes,attached to substratum by holdfast .
• Eg: usnea ,Rocella (litmus paper ) ,cladonia (reindeer moss ).
cetraria (Iceland moss) etc.
Internal structure of lichen
Reproduction in lichen
• Vegetative propagation : by rejuvenation of thallus and
fragmentation
Asexual reproduction in lichen
• Isidia :small superficial outgrowths in finger like projection in thallus
enclosing algal cell covered by continuous cortex.
• Soredia :minute spherical ,few algal cells partially
Covered by fungal mycelium.
Sexual reproduction in lichen
• Only in fungal partners(ascomycetes ) by ascospores or
basidiospores.
• Fruiting body is :apothecium (cup shaped)
• Male gamete( spermatia) liberated from ostiole and fuse with
carpogonia .diploid zygote is formed and later developed into ascus
or basidium.
Some special structures
• Breathing spores :small cavity for gas exchange in foliose lichen
• Cyphellae :circular depression on lower side of thallus for gas
exchange .
• Cephallodia :outgrowth on upper surface for retaining
moisture .
Economic importance of lichen
• Pioneer colonizer in lithosere specially crustose lichen .
• Antiobiotic production :usnic acid from usnea .
• Medicines uses :peltigera for hydrophobia
parmelia for epilepsy
lobaria (lung wort ) : lung disease
Evernia for cough
xanthoria for jaundice
usnea and cladonia for burn and wound ointment .
• Dyes and perfumes :litmus paper from Rocella tinctoria.Evernia is
used to make perfumes.
• Lichens are indicators of air pollution specially So2 pollution .
• Food values :several species of cetraria and cladonia are used as food
and making beverages .
• Forest fire : usnea (old man beard),hot season automatic firing in
jungle .
• Q) short twisted strands of hyphae which serves as anchors for
lichens
a) mycelium b) rhizines
c) roots d)rhizoids
Q) Epilepsy is controlled by
a)usnea b) parmelia
c) rocella d) Graphis
• Q) in lichens sexual reproduction belongs to
a) fungal partner only b) algal partner only
c) both algal and fungal d)either one of them
Q) The lichen found in barks of stem are called
a) corticolous b) saxicolous
c) lignoculous d)terricolous
