STUDY ON IDENTIFICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF LICHENS (ORDER LECANORALES) IN MASHHAD AND SURROUNDINGS

The lichen specimens belonging to the order Lecanorales were collected from calcareous rocks in various areas of Mashhad. (Khorasan province). Specimens were taken back to the laboratory and identified. The identification of the species is based on morphology, anatomy and chemistry. They compose of 8 taxa belonging to 7 genera, namely, Lecanora conferta, L. muralis, Rhizocarpon umbilicatum, Dimelaena oreina, Toninia rosulata, Cetraria oakesiana, Candelariella sp. and Buellia sp., which are new reports for the Iranian lichen flora (Figs. 1-8).