Five New Allographa Species Discovered

In July 2026, researchers discovered five new species of the lichen-forming fungi belonging to the genus Allographa in the Western Ghats, highlighting the region's rich biodiversity.

Key Points

Research Institutions: The study was conducted by researchers from the MACS Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
New Species: The newly identified species are Allographa keralensis, A. nayakae, A. paraconsanguinea, A. persistinspersa, and A. semicarbonisata.
Ecological Importance: Allographa species are lichen-forming fungi that act as bioindicators, helping assess forest health, air quality and environmental changes.
Key Findings: The study showed that species with similar external features are not always closely related, highlighting the importance of molecular techniques in biodiversity studies.