ORIGINAL ARTICLE
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Tanzania possesses various types of forest ecosystems, such as miombo woodlands, mangroves, and montane forests, which support a wide range of biodiversity, including lichens. In our recent studies of lichens in Tanzania, we have observed a significant lack of documented records. Therefore, we are presenting, for the first time, an initial checklist of lichen species compiled using existing literature and augmented with our own fieldwork and observations. This checklist encompasses a total of 581 lichen species in 112 genera. It offers a comprehensive overview of the lichen flora present in Tanzania. Furthermore, we summarize the secondary chemistry and potential medicinal uses of these lichens
FUNDING
We are thankful to the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) – UDSM-SIDA, Project No. 2221 for their financial support.
REFERENCES (96)
1.
Alstrup, V. & Aptroot, A. 2005. Pyrenocarpous lichens from Tanzania and Kenya. Cryptogamie, Mycologie 26: 265–271.
 
2.
Alstrup, V. & Christensen, S. N. 2006. New records of lichens with cyanobacteria from Tanzania and Kenya. Cryptogamie, Mycologie 27: 57–68.
 
3.
Alstrup, V., Aptroot, A., Divakar, P. K., LaGreca, S. & Tibell, L. 2010. Lichens from Tanzania and Kenya III. Macrolichens and calicioid lichens. Cryptogamie Mycologie 31(3): 333–35.
 
4.
Aptroot, A., Diederich, P., Van Herk, C. M., Spiers, L. & Wirth, V. 1997. Protoparmelia hypotremella, a new sterile corticolous species from Europe, and its lichenicolous fungi. The Lichenologist 29: 415–424. https://doi.org/10.1006/lich.1....
 
5.
Aptroot, A., Thor, G., Lucking, R., Elix, J. & Chaves, J. L. 2009. The lichen genus Herpothallon reinstated. Bibliotheca Lichenologica 99: 19–66.
 
6.
Aptroot, A. Feuerstein, S. C., Cunha-Dias, I. P. R., de Lucena Nunes, Á. R., Honorato, M. E. & da Silva Cáceres, M. E. 2017. New lichen species and lichen reports from Amazon forest remnants and Cerrado vegetation in the Tocantina Region, northern Brazil. The Bryologist 120: 320–328.
 
7.
Aragón, G., Otálora, M. A. G. & Martinez, I. 2005. New data on the genus Leptogium (lichenized ascomycetes) in the Iberian Peninsula. Nova Hedwigia 80: 199–226. https://doi.org/10.1127/0029-5....
 
8.
Beeching, S. Q. 2007. Dimelaena tenuis (lichenized Ascomycota) new to North America, and Xanthoparmelia pseudocongensis new to Georgia, USA. Opuscula Philolichenum 4: 55–56. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.3819....
 
9.
Berger, F. & Aptroot, A. 2002. Further contributions to the flora of lichens and lichenicolous fungi of the Azores. Arquipélago 19A: 1–12.
 
10.
Bessey, C. E. 1907. A Synopsis of Plant Phyla. University of Nebraska Studies: Lincoln, NE, USA, pp. 275–373.
 
11.
Bock, C., Hauck, M. & Fischer, E. 2007. The lichen flora of Rwanda: an annotated checklist. Willdenowia 37(2): 563–575. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.37.....
 
12.
Boluda, C. G. & Kitara, N. N. 2024. Placopsis craterifera (Trapeliaceae, Lecanoromycetes), a new lichen species from alpine habitats on Mount Meru, Tanzania. The Lichenologist 56(1): 15–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
13.
Brij Lal & Upreti, D. K. 1995. Ethnobotanical notes on three Indian lichens. The Lichenologist 27: 77–79. https://doi.org/10.1006/lich.1....
 
14.
Brij Lal., Upreti, D. K. & Kalakoti, B. S. 1985. Ethnobotanical utilization of lichens by the tribals of Madhya Pradesh. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 7: 203–204.
 
15.
CIA, 2018. World Factbook – Tanzania. https://www.cia.gov/library/pu.... Accessed June 8th 2018.
 
16.
Degelius, G. 1954. The lichen genus Collema in Europe. Symbolae Botanicae Upsalienses 13(2): 1–499.
 
17.
Divakar, P. K. & Upreti, D. K. 2005. Parmelioid lichens in India (A revisionary study). Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India, 488 pp.
 
18.
Elix, J. A. 1994. Xanthoparmelia. Flora of Australia 55: 201–308.
 
19.
Eriksson, O. E. 1992. Psoroglaena cubensis and Flakea papillata gen. et sp. nov., two corticolous lichens with a pantropical distribution. Systema Ascomycetum 11: 11–27.
 
20.
Farkas, E. 1987. Foliicolous lichens of the Usambara mountains, Tanzania I. The Lichenologist 19(1): 43–59. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
21.
Farkas, E. 2015. Foliicolous lichen collections on Mount Kanga, Tanzania (East Africa). Acta Botanica Hungarica 57: 41–50. https://doi.org/10.1556/abot.5....
 
22.
Frisch, A. & Hertel, H. 1998. Flora of Macrolichens in the alpine and subalpine zones of Mt. Kenya (Kenya). Sauteria 9: 363–370.
 
23.
Hafellner, J. 1995. A new checklist of lichens and lichenicolous fungi of insular Laurimacaronesia including a lichenological bibliography for the area. Fritschiana 5: 1–132.
 
24.
Hale Jr, M. E. 1975. A revision of the lichen genus Hypotrachyna (Parmeliaceae) in tropical America. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 23: 1–73. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.008....
 
25.
Hale Jr, M. E. 1976. A monograph of the lichen genus Pseudoparmelia Lynge (Parmeliacea). Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 31: 1–62. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.008....
 
26.
Hale Jr, M. E. 1990. A synopsis of the lichen genus Xanthoparmelia (Vainio) Hale (Ascomycotina, Parmeliaceae). Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 74: 1–250. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.008....
 
27.
Harris, R. C. 1984. The family Trypetheliaceae (Loculoascomycetes: lichenized Melanommatales) in Amazonian Brazil. Acta Ama-zonica 14: 55–80. https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-4....
 
28.
Harris, R. C. 1989. A Sketch of the Family Pyrenulaceae (Melanommatales) in Eastern North America. Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 49: 74–107.
 
29.
Harris, R. C. 1995. More Florida lichens including the 10c tour of the pyrenolichens. The New York Botanical Garden.
 
30.
Harris, R. C. 1998. A preliminary revision of Pseudopyrenula Müll. Arg. (lichenized Ascomycetes, Trypetheliaceae) with a redisposition of the names previously assigned to the genus, Lichenographia Thomsoniana: North American Lichenology in Honor of John W. Thomson, pp. 133–148. Mycotaxon Ltd., Ithaca, New York.
 
31.
Hawksworth, D. L. 2003. Hallucinogenic and toxic lichens. International Lichenological Newsletter 36: 33–35.
 
32.
Honda, N. K., Pavan, F. R., Coelho, R. G., de Andrade Leite, S. R., Micheletti, A. C., Lopes, T. I. B., Misutsu M. Y., Beatriz A., Brum R. L & Leite, C. Q. F. 2010. Antimycobacterial activity of lichen substances. Phytomedicine 17: 328–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phym....
 
33.
Huneck, S. 1999. The significance of lichens and their metabolites. Naturwissenschaften 86: 559–570. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114....
 
34.
Ingolfsdottir, K. 2002. Molecules of interest: Usnic acid. Phytochemistry 61: 729–736. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-....
 
35.
Jørgensen, P. M. 1994. Further notes in European taxa of the lichen genus Leptogium, with emphasis on the small species. The Li-chenologist 26: 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1006/lich.1....
 
36.
Jørgensen, P. M. 2002. Kroswia, a new genus in the Pannariaceae (lichenized ascomycetes). The Lichenologist 34: 297–303. https://doi.org/10.1006/lich.2....
 
37.
Jørgensen, P. M. & Galloway, D. J. 1992. Pannariaceae. Flora of Australia 54: 246–293.
 
38.
Jørgensen, P. M. & James, P. W. 1983. Studies on some Leptogium species of Western Europe. The Lichenologist 15: 109–125. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
39.
Kaasalainen, U., Hemp, A. & Rikkinen, J. 2018. Lichen diversity on Mt. Kilimanjaro. In: Hemp C., K., Böhning-Gaese, M., Fischer & Hemp A. (eds), The KiLi Project: Kilimanjaro ecosystems under global change: Linking biodiversity, biotic interactions and bio-geochemical ecosystem, pp. 74–75. Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Frankfurt.
 
40.
Kaasalainen, U., Biermann, L., Mollel, N. P., Schmidt, A. R. & Hemp, A. 2022. Peltigera (Lecanoromycetes) on Mt Kilimanjaro, East Africa. The Lichenologist 54(5): 231–243. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
41.
Kaasalainen, U., Kirika, P. M., Mollel, N. P., Hemp, A. & Rikkinen, J. 2023. The Lichen Genus Sticta (Lobariaceae, Peltigerales) in East African Montane Ecosystems. Journal of Fungi 9(2): 246. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof902....
 
42.
Killmann, D. & Fischer, E. 2005. New records for the lichen flora of Rwanda, East Africa. Willdenowia 35(1): 193–204. https://doi.org/10.3372/wi.35.....
 
43.
Krog, H. 1993. Parmelina enormis (Hale) Hale is Bulbothrix enormis (Hale) Krog comb. nov. The Lichenologist 25: 299–300. https://doi.org/10.1006/lich.1....
 
44.
Krog, H. 1994. New observations on Usnea subgenus Eumitria in eastern and central Africa. In: Seyani, J. & Chikuni, A. (eds) Pro-ceedings of the XIII plenary meeting AETFAT Vol. 2: 813–821. National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens, Malawi.
 
45.
Krog, H. 2000. Corticolous macrolichens of of low montane rainforests and moist woodlands of eastern Tanzania. Sommerfeltia 28: 1–75. https://doi.org/10.2478/som-20....
 
46.
Krog, H. & Swinscow, T. D. V. 1982. A First Report of Parietin in the Genus Parmelia s. lat. The Lichenologist 14: 98–98. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
47.
Krog, H. & Swinscow, T. D. V. 1983. A new species and new combinations in Parmotrema (Parmeliaceae). The Lichenologist 15: 127–130. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
48.
Krog, H. & Swinscow, T. D. V. 1986a. The lichen genera Lasallia and Umbilicaria in east Africa. Nordic Journal of Botany 6: 75–85. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756....
 
49.
Krog, H. & Swinscow, T. D. V. 1986b. Parmotrema hicksii sp. nov. described from Tanzania. The Lichenologist 18: 292–293. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
50.
Knudsen, K. E. R. R. Y., Lendemer, J. C. & Harris, R. C. 2011. Studies in lichens and lichenicolous fungi – no 15: miscellaneous notes on species from eastern North America. Opuscula Philolichenum 9: 45–75. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.3820....
 
51.
Kumar, K. & Upreti, D. K. 2001. Parmelia spp. (lichen) in ancient medicinal plant lore of India. Economic Botany 55: 458–459. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF0286....
 
52.
Lindblom, L. 1997. The genus Xanthoria (Fr.) Th. Fr. in North America. Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 83: 75–172.
 
53.
McCarthy, P. M. 2001. Verrucaria. Flora of Australia 58A: 176–196.
 
54.
McCarthy, P. M. 2004. Catalogue of the Lichen Family Porinaceae. Mycotaxon 89(1).
 
55.
Motyka, J. (1936). Lichenum generis Usnea studium monographicum (No. 1). Editio et proprietas auctoris.
 
56.
Müller, J. 1894. Lichenes usambarenses. Engler´s Botanische Jahrbücher 20: 238–298.
 
57.
Müller, K. 2001. Pharmaceutically relevant metabolites from lichens. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 56: 9–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253....
 
58.
Ohmura, Y. 2001. Taxonomic study of the genus Usnea (lichenized Ascomycetes) in Japan and Taiwan. The Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 90: 1–96.
 
59.
Ranković, B. & Mišić, M. 2008. The antimicrobial activity of the lichen substances of the lichens Cladonia furcata, Ochrolechia androgyna, Parmelia caperata and Parmelia conspresa. Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment 22: 1013–1016. https://doi.org/10.1080/131028....
 
60.
Richardson, D. H. S. 1988. Medicinal and other aspects of lichens. In: Galun, M. (eds), CRC Handbook of Lichenology, Vol. III, pp. 93–108. FL: CRC Press, Boca Raton. https://doi.org/10.1201/978042....
 
61.
Roux, C. & Sérusiaux, E. 2004. Le genre Strigula (Lichens) en Europe et en Macaronésie. Bibliotheca Lichenologica 90: 1–96.
 
62.
Saklani, A. & Upreti, D. K. 1992. Folk uses of some lichens in Sikkim. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 27: 229–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8....
 
63.
Schindler, H. (1988). Zur Geschichte der Anwendung von Flechten (Lichenes) in der Medizin. Carolinea 46: 31.
 
64.
Seaward, M. R. & Amrani, S. 2022. Checklist of lichens and lichenicolous fungi of Morocco. Herzogia 35(2): 564–612. https://doi.org/10.13158/heia.....
 
65.
Shahi, S. K., Shukla, A. C., Dikshit, A. & Upreti, D. K. 2000. Use of lichens as antifungal drugs against superficial fungal infections. Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences 22(4A)/23(1A): 169–172.
 
66.
Shahi, S. K., Shukla, A. C., Dikshit, A. & Upreti, D. K. 2001. Broad spectrum antifungal properties of the lichen. Heterodermia leu-ocomela. The Lichenologist 33: 177–179. https://doi.org/10.1006/lich.2....
 
67.
Shahi, S. K., Patra, M., Dikshit, A. & Upreti, D. K. 2003. Parmelia cirrhatum: a potential source of broad-spectrum natural antifungal. Phytotherapy Research 17: 399–400. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.11....
 
68.
Sierk, H. A. 1964. The genus Leptogium in North America north of Mexico. The Bryologist 67(3): 245–317.
 
69.
Singh, P. & Singh, K. P. 2017. Note on the taxonomic status of Pyrgillus tibellii Kr. P. Singh & Pushpi Singh with a world key to the species of Pyrgillus Nyl. (Pyrenulaceae: Pyrenulales). The Lichenologist 49(3): 287–289. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
70.
Stoll, A., Brack, A. & Renz, J. 1950. Die Wirkung von Flechtenstoffen auf Tuberkelbakterien und auf einige andere Mikroorganismen. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Pathologie und Bakteriologie 13: 729–751. https://doi.org/10.1159/000159....
 
71.
Swinscow, T. D. V. & Krog, H. 1974. Usnea subgenus Eumitria in East Africa. Norwegian Journal of Botany 21: 165–185.
 
72.
Swinscow, T. D. V. & Krog, H. 1975. The Usnea undulata aggregate in East Africa. The Lichenologist 7: 121–138. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
73.
Swinscow, T. D. V. & Krog, H. 1976a. The Usnea articulata aggregate in East Africa. Norwegian Journal of Botany 23: 261–268.
 
74.
Swinscow, T. D. V. & Krog, H. 1976b. The Usnea bornmuelleri aggregate in East Africa. Norwegian Journal of Botany 23: 23–31.
 
75.
Swinscow, T. D. V. & Krog, H. 1978. Pendulous species of Usnea in East Africa. Norwegian Journal of Botany 25: 221–241.
 
76.
Swinscow, T. D. V. & Krog, H. 1979. The fruticose species of Usnea subgenus Usnea in East Africa. The Lichenologist 11: 207–252. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
77.
Swinscow, T. D. V. & Krog, H. 1986a. Usnea antiqua sp. nov. described from Tanzania. The Lichenologist 18: 293–295. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
78.
Swinscow, T. D. V. & Krog, H. 1986b. Some observations on the thallus in Pannaria, with description of a new species. The Lichenologist 18: 309–315. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
79.
Swinscow, T. D. V. & Krog, H. 1986c. A new species in the genus Collema from East Africa. The Lichenologist 18: 63–70. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
80.
Swinscow, T. D. V. & Krog, H. 1988. Macrolichens of East Africa. British Museum (Natural History). London, U.K.
 
81.
Temu, S. G. (2021). Disputation: Lichens in Mountain Rainforests of Tanzania: Studies of Usnea and Calicioids, Uppsala University, Sweden.
 
82.
Temu, S. G., Clerc, P., Tibell, L., Tibuhwa, D. D. & Tibell, S. 2019a. Phylogeny of the subgenus Eumitria in Tanzania. Mycology 10: 250–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/215012....
 
83.
Temu, S. G., Tibell, S., Tibuhwa, D. D. & Tibell, L. 2019b. Crustose Calicioid Lichens and Fungi in Mountain Cloud Forests of Tanzania. Microorganisms 7: 491. https://doi.org/10.3390/microo....
 
84.
Temu, S. G., Clerc, P., Nadel, M. R., Tibell, L., Tibuhwa, D. D. & Tibell, S. 2022. Molecular, morphological and chemical variation of the Usnea pectinata aggregate from Tanzania, São Tomé and Príncipe. The Lichenologist 54(5): 291–298. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
85.
Tibell, L. 1981. Notes on Caliciales. III. – Some species from Africa. The Lichenologist 13: 161–165. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
86.
Tibell, L. 1987. Typification of names of infrageneric taxa described by Acharius and placed by him in Caliciales. Annales Botanici Fennici 24: 257–280.
 
87.
Tibell, L. 2001. A synopsis of crustose calicioid lichens and fungi from mainland Africa and Madagascar. Nordic Journal of Botany 21: 717–742. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756....
 
88.
Tibell, L. & Frisch, A. 2010. New data on crustose mazaediate lichens from tropical Africa. Bibliotheca Lichenologica 104: 323–332.
 
89.
Tibell, L. & Ryman, K. 1995. Revision of species of Chaenothecopsis with short stalks. Nova Hedwigia 60(1–2): 199–218.
 
90.
Truong, C. & Clerc, P. 2013. Eumitrioid Usnea species (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycota) in tropical South America and the Galapagos. The Lichenologist 45(3): 383–395. https://doi.org/10.1017/S00242....
 
91.
Vartia, K. O. 1973. Antibiotics in lichens. In: Ahmadjian, V. & Hale, M. E. (eds), The Lichens, pp. 547–561, Academic Press, New York. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0....
 
92.
Verdon, D. 1990. New Australasian species and records in the genus Leptogium S. Gray (lichenized Ascomycotina: Collemataceae). Mycotaxon 37: 413–440.
 
93.
Verdon, D. 1992. Leptogium. Flora of Australia 54: 173–192.
 
94.
Vězda, A. 2008.Vězda: Lichenes selecti exsiccati (1960–1991). Alphabetical index to all 2500 edited taxa of lichenized or lichenicolous fungi. Sauteria 15: 571–596.
 
95.
Yamamoto, Y. 2000. Screening of biological activities and isolation of biological-active compounds from lichens. Sho-kubutsu no Kagaku Chosetu 35: 169–179.
 
96.
Zahlbruckner, A. 1932. Lichenes in Africa lecti. Laboratoire de Cryptogamie du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle.
 
eISSN:2657-5000
ISSN:2544-7459
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top