Orange wrapper at mangrove: trentepohlia flava (w. j. hooker and arnott) cribb, a new discovery from bhitarkanika conservatory, India

The interesting Chlorophycean epiphytic algae Trentepohlia forming mostly yellow to bright orange or red-brown coloured covering on tree barks, rocks, walls etc. The features of the order Trentepohliales have been investigated in details from several decades and it has taken a great interest to the scientists for its form and diversity. However, the information available for this group in India is relatively limited and insufficient. The collections from Bhitarkanika Conservatory, a rich, sensitive mangrove eco-system lying in the estuarine region of Brahmani- Baitarani in the North-Eastern corner of Kendrapara district of Orissa, India which allowed the new discovery and characterization of some poorly known species possessing tremendous ecological and taxonomic value, such as Trentepohlia flava appeared as orange covering on the tree bark within the mangroves. The morphology and distribution of the species described and the taxonomic as well as bio-geographical implications of the new records are discussed in this paper.