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The body of a lichen has a fungal and an algal component and as a whole, it represents a remarkable example of symbiosis between these two organisms. Such an association, besides conferring several advantages on lichens, has enabled them to thrive in all sorts of diverse environments in different parts of the world. In past, lichens have been known for their economic usefulness, but, with the discovery of better natural as also synthetic materials, studies on lichens were confined to their taxonomy and biology. However, the recent revival of interest of plant scientists, and in particular of environmentalists, in lichens is because of their being excellent indicators of air-pollution. At National Botanical Research Institute, lichens have been studied both, morphologically and taxonomically, with a view to document the lichen flora of our country. The present publication aims at reviewing the work done as also at cataloguing the literature published on this subject in the Indian Subcontinent during the last decade or so. The survey shows that, so far, only about 2000 lichen species have been reported from this region and there is a need to extend such a study to the remaining part of the lichen flora before the increasing atmospheric pollution takes its toll of some of the species. (Copyright (c) 1980, National Botanical Research Institute.)