Soil Surface Lichens in Arid and Subarid South-Eastern Australia. I. Introduction and Floristics

Abstract

Lichens on soils in Australia have been neglected until recently. This paper describes a study area of nearly 1 million km² in south-eastern Australia, and the methods used to determine the lichens found on the soil surfaces in that area.

In all, 343 locations were examined, 227 of which had soil surface lichens. From the range of lichens encountered a total of 42 taxa were delimited, and in 36 cases ascribed to previously described species or complexes; the remaining six were either un- described, or depauperate forms which could not be placed.

The world phytogeographic implications of this study are discussed.