Rinodina moziana (lichenized ascomycetes physciaceae), a new record from Pakistan

Abstract

This study reports the first discovery of Rinodina moziana, a previously unrecorded lichen species in Pakistan, identified during a field survey in the Malakand division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Detailed morphological, chemical and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based phylogenetic analyses confirmed the species’ identity, marking it as Rinodina moziana (lichenized Ascomycota). This result greatly increases the known distribution of R. moziana and emphasizes the region’s unexplored lichen diversity. The discovery contributes to the growing body of knowledge on Pakistan’s biodiversity, highlighting the importance of continued lichenological research for conservation and environmental monitoring efforts in the country. This finding enhances our knowledge of the local flora, underscores the ecological richness of Pakistan’s subtropical broadleaf forests, and highlights the need for further exploration and conservation of lichen species in the area. The discovery also provides a baseline for future research on the biogeographical patterns and environmental factors influencing lichen distribution in South Asia.