Abstract

Heteroscyphus orbiculatus Srivast. et Srivast., so far known from Kodaikanal in Western Ghats, is described for the first time from Great Himalayan National Park, Kullu, Himachal Pradesh in North-west Himalaya. This species can be easily recognized from other species of the genus in the region in having light green to brownish green plant; undifferentiated, thin-walled cells of stem; usually orbicular leaves, broadest in middle, with dentate or entire apex; leaf cells with small tri-radiate trigones; deeply bilobed underleaves with 1-3 cells long tooth on one or both lateral margins. Distributional pattern of the west Himalayan taxa of the genus has been discussed.

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