Lepraria indica
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| Lepraria indica | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Lecanoromycetes |
| Order: | Lecanorales |
| Family: | Stereocaulaceae |
| Genus: | Lepraria |
| Species: | L. indica |
| Binomial name | |
| Lepraria indica Rajesh Bajpai & Upreti (2018) | |
Lepraria indica is a species of leprose (powdery) crustose lichen in the family Stereocaulaceae.[1] It was discovered in the Amarkantak region of Madhya Pradesh in central India, where it grows on rocks and soil in tropical forests at elevations between 150 and 500 metres. The lichen forms green to light grey powdery patches with distinctive lobed edges that have slightly raised rims and a thick white inner layer. Chemical analysis has identified several lichen substances in the species, including stictic acid, atranorin, and zeorin, which help distinguish it from similar powdery lichens.
Lepraria indica was described as new to science by Rajesh Bajpai and Dalip Kumar Upreti in a 2018 treatment of Indian Lepraria and Leprocaulon. The holotype specimen was collected in Madhya Pradesh (Anuppur District, Amarkantak, Mai-ki-Bagiya forest) on rock over soil. The epithet refers to India. The authors distinguished the species by its lobed, weak-rimmed margin and a clearly developed white medulla, and by a chemistry of stictic acid with atranorin and zeorin. They noted contrasts with superficially similar taxa: it shares chemistry with L. lobificans but has more strongly developed marginal lobes; resembles Leprocaulon coriense in form but differs chemically (L. coriense lacks stictic acid and has usnic acid with zeorin); and differs from L. santosii, L. elobata and L. caesioalba in its combination of well-formed lobes and chemistry. The key provided in the paper separates L. indica on its lobed, raised margin and distinct medulla.[2]