Introduction

Based on evidence the emergence of lichens as composite organisms date back to over four hundred million years ago (Devonian). Lichens are composed of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner (green algae «Chlorophyceae», green-blue «Cyanophyceae» algae or both of them)  growing together in a reciprocal arrangement and  symbiotic form. The fungus in this collection are called «Mycobiont», most of them are Ascomycetes and a few are Basidiomycetes. Algae in this collection are called «Phycobiont». Lichens have different vegetative forms such as Crastose, Foliose, Fraticose, Gelatinous and Squamulose which give particular forms to lichens’ structure. On the other hand, lichens are highly regarded and used in medicine, pharmaceuticals, paint industries, perfume making, production of vitamins and air pollution indicators [1-7].

There are some case studies about lichens in Iran. The study of lichens in Iran refers to 1885 when Stapf studied some parts of Fars province. Muller (1892) conducted some studies on the lichens of Fars and Isfahan. In recent years, some studies has also been done  by Massumi, Sohrabi, Haji Munir, Valad-Beigi, Dianat Nezhad, Kraam Dini, Zare Hassan Abadi and Abedi [8-13]. Due to the highly different climate and geographical conditions in the study areas as well as the lack of a checklist of lichens, this study have been focused on lichens.

Materials and Methods

The study area

Ilam province is located between 45^◦ 24′ to 48^◦ 10′ Eastern longitude and 31^◦ 58′ to 34^◦ 15′ northern latitude. Dehloran city, in terms of topography, is divided into two distinct areas, mountains, foothills and plains and hill that low-altitude mountains are located at the Dehloran border region with Iraq.

Dehloran

Dehloran which altitude from sea level is about 232 meters, is located at the southern region of Ilam province with hot and dry climate especially in summers, similar to Khozestan and high evaporation rate about 10 times more than rainfall per year. Maximum and minimum temperature reach to 51 and 2 degrees Celsius in July and January, respectively. Average rainfall in this region is 250-270 mm and average annual evaporation is 2841 mm. The average relative humidity, during a year, is about 36% [14, 15].

Dareshahr

Like as narrow strip, Dareshahr is located between Kabirkooh Mountain and Seymare River in Zagros Mountains stretching along the north-west to south-east with about 1,435 square kilometers (length of 160 km and width of 9 km). It is situated close to the ruins of the ancient city, Seymare (or Madakto), with a distance of 4 km from the Seymare River in a wide valley on the northern slopes of  Kabirkooh (Zagros Mountains) to Ilam and a distance of 170 km from Khoram Abad, between 47^◦ 24′ northern latitude and 33^◦ 9′ Eastern longitude. 1150 meters is recorded as its height from sea level [14, 15].

Kabirkooh

This mountain starts from near the southern part of Ilam (Aftab Col), continues until the Karkheh River where the land becomes flat with a length of 160 km. The highest point, Kahn Saifi, is in a place called Varzarin. As the largest and most systematic Mountain of Ilam, it is the source of many rivers. A part of it surrounds the northern region of Dehloran city [14, 15].

Dinarkooh

Dinarkooh Mountains is located in the north of Dehloran between Abdanan and Dehloran, with approximately 2600 meters above sea level. In the West and Southwest regions of Ilam, there are some mountain such as Koolak, Nakhjir, Deshmin and Anaraan [14, 15].

Ilam border region with Iraq

Low mountains of Hamrain are located in Ilam border region with Iraq, stretching from Mehran (Bahram Abad) to Khozestan were emerged during Tertiary orogenic movements as a result of the collision between the Arabian plate and Iran Central plate in North West-South East direction. Sediments during the second to fourth geological period have formed these mountains  being affected by erosion in the Quaternary period [14, 15].

Samplin

From about 30 different trips to the different parts from the southeastern of Ilam province (Iran), more than 300 samples of lichens were collected. In order to collect lichens’ samples, the 1:1000 map of area was initially prepared, then the samples were collected using masonry pen, hammer, knife and screwdriver. Sampling regions are shown in Figure 1 as written here:

Iran, Ilam province, Dehloran district, Havar, 32.886263 N, 046.915924 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Dehloran district, Park Taleghani, 32.499771 N, 47.48326 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Dehloran district, Abegarm, 32.695473 N, 47.316596 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Dehloran district, near international boundary, 32,836796 N, 46.868362 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Dehloran district, Gosalo (near shahrake Hejrat), 32.690107 N, 047.412421 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Darehshahr district, Sarabe kolm, 33.341065 N, 046.902159 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Darehshahr district, Kolme bala, 33.357055 N, 06.90292 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Abdanan district, Kabir Kouh, Vargar, 32.956093 N, 047.406706 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Abdanan district, Kabir Kouh, North of Vargar, 32.947379 N, 47.370533 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Abdanan district, Kabir Kouh (near Microwave), 33.069393 N, 47.324857 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Abdanan district, Dinar Kouh, Radar (North of Vargar), 32.936672 N, 047.33841 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Abdanan district, Dinar Kouh, ChameKabud, 32.922202 N, 047.512805 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Abdanan district, Dinar Kouh, Shalat, 32.802708 N, 047.554702 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Abdanan district, Near Murmuri, 32.724587 N, 047.659362 E.

Iran, Ilam province, Abdanan district, Near Murmuri, Panj barar, 32,775193 N, 47.640601 E.

Figure 1: Location of collecting stations of Ilam city and southwest area, Dehloran, Abdanan, Dareshahr and the Iraqi border Click here to view full figure

Samples were stored in small cans or paper bag with the date and place. And the data for each sample were recorded under a specific code in a form. The histological structure of samples was examined using evaluation methods and Microscopic studies. For this purpose, the samples were molded, after fixation in FAA and dehydrated through ascending grades of alcohol and toluene and paraffin. Then they are cut by microtome and removing the paraffin by xylem through the ascending grades of alcohol by Cotton Blue – Erythrosine, Double staining ​​was done. The macroscopic studies were also conducted to identify each species. Attributes that were used to identification includes, Tal colors and different shapes of thallus (shells, leaves, shrubs, squamous), Apothecium condition (uniform, non-uniform, spherical cup), presence or absence of hymnum layer in perithecia and Apothecium, the study of algae, spores features (color, size, or absence of wall and the number in each ascus bag), and finally by chemical tests [2, 16, 17]. And lichens were identified according to the sources and identification keys such as Hale 1979, Krog 1980, Moberg 1977, Hafellner 1979, Thomson 1984, Purvis et al 1992, Elix 1993, Mccune 1995, McCune, B. 2010, Gaward et al. 1996, Dobson 2000, Sipman 2003 and etc.  [1, 4, 17-30].

Results and Discussion

In this study, 14 genera and 25 species of lichens were collected from the mountains and plains of Abdanan, Dehloran, Dareshahr and the Iraqi border (Ilam province, Iran) (Table 1) (Figure 2-25).

Among the identified species, two species recorded for Iran include:

• Chrysothrix xanthina (Vainio), Kalb. (Iran, Ilam province,Darehshahr district, Sarabe kolm, 2008.3.28)
• Leptogium laceroides (B. de Lesd.) P.M. Jørg. (Iran, Ilam province, Abdanan district, Dinar Kouh, ChameKabud 2008.3.12)

And five species recorded for Ilam Province consist:

• Fulgensia fulgida (NYL.) Szat
• Glypholecia scabra (pers.) Mull
• Psora crenata (Taylor) Reinke
• Psora vallesiaca (Schaerer) Timdal

T.lutosa (Ach.) Timda

Table 1: Lichen species in the southeastern region of Ilam province (Iran)

Figure 2: Acarospora cervina A. Massal Click here to view full figure

Figure 3: Glypholecia scabra (Pers) Click here to view full figure

Figure 4: Squamarina lentigera (Weber) Poelt Click here to view full figure

Figure 5: Collema cristatum (L) Weber Click here to view full figure

Figure 6: Collemaflaccidium (Ach.) Ach Click here to view full figure

Figure 7: Rhizoplacamelanophtalma (Ramond) Click here to view full figure

Figure 8: Rhizoplaca peltata (Ramond) Leuckert & poelt Click here to view full figure

Figure 9: Chrysothrixxanthina (Vainio). Kalb Click here to view full figure

Figure 10: Opegrapha herbarum (Mont) James Click here to view full figure

Figure 11: Placidiumsemaforonense (Breuss) Breuss Click here to view full figure

Figure 12: Placidium squamulosum (Ach.) Breuss Click here to view full figure

Figure 13: Psora vallesiaca (Schaerer) Timdal Click here to view full figure

Figure 14: Fulgensia fulgens (Sw.) Elenkin Click here to view full figure

Figure 15: Fulgensia fulgida (NYL) Szat Click here to view full figure

Figure 16: Fulgensia subbracteata (NY1). Poelt Click here to view full figure

Figure 17: Xanthoria parietina (L) Th.Fr Click here to view full figure

Figure 18: Leptogium laceroides (B. de Lesd.) P.M. Jørg Click here to view full figure

Figure 19: Toninia diffracta (missal) Zahlbr Click here to view full figure

Figure 20: Lecanora muralis (Schreber) Click here to view full figure

Figure 21: Acarospora strigata (Nyl.) Jatta Click here to view full figure

Figure 22: Psora decipiens Hedwig (Hoffm) Click here to view full figure

Figure 23: Toniniasedifolia (Scop.) Timdal Click here to view full figure

Figure 24: Fulgensiafulgida (NYI) Sza Click here to view full figure

Figure 25: Collema tenax (SW.) Ach Click here to view full figure

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