What new lichen species were discovered by the Lichenology Lab at Maharaja's College?

The Lichenology Lab at Maharaja's College in Kochi, Kerala has discovered four new lichen species from the Western Ghats region: Parmotrema sahyadricum, Solenopsora rhizomorpha, Buelloa ghattensis, and Pyxine janakiae.

How does the Lichenology Lab's lichen collection compare to other institutions in Kerala?

The lichen herbarium at Maharaja's College is one of the most extensive at the college level, matching the collections of the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE)-Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) and the KSCSTE-Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institutes (JNTBGRI) in Kerala.

What is the significance of lichens as biomonitoring agents?

Lichens play a vital role as biomonitoring agents due to their ability to absorb pollutants directly from the air, indicating the health of the environment. The researchers have used lichens to detect the presence of heavy metals like copper, zinc, and lead in the Manjummel-Edayar region, highlighting the level of air pollution in the area.

Home / Science / Kochi College's Lichen Lab Uncovers Biodiversity Gems in Western Ghats

Kochi College's Lichen Lab Uncovers Biodiversity Gems in Western Ghats

7 Nov

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Summary

Lichenology lab at Maharaja's College, Kochi houses over 4,000 lichen specimens
Researchers discover 4 new lichen species in the Western Ghats
Lichens play vital role as biomonitors of air pollution and forest health

Kochi College's Lichen Lab Uncovers Biodiversity Gems in Western Ghats

As of 2025-11-07T12:23:57+00:00, the 'Lichenology Lab' at Maharaja's College in Kochi, Kerala has been making significant contributions to the understanding of lichen diversity in the Western Ghats. This unassuming space, which houses over 4,000 dried lichen specimens, has become a hub for groundbreaking biodiversity research.

Over the past year, the lab's team, led by Associate Professor Stephen Sequiera and his doctoral scholars Arun Christy, Aswathi Anilkumar, and Arsha S Mohan, has identified four new lichen species from the Western Ghats region. These newly discovered species - Parmotrema sahyadricum, Solenopsora rhizomorpha, Buelloa ghattensis, and Pyxine janakiae - have been published in international scientific journals, further expanding the known lichen diversity of this biodiversity hotspot.