Researchers from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, have described five new species of Allographa, a group of lichen-forming fungi, from the Western Ghats. The new species are Allographa keralensis, A. nayakae, A. paraconsanguinea, A. persistinspersa and A. semicarbonisata. Lichens of this genus react quickly to air pollution and changes in their habitat, so scientists use them as indicators of forest health and overall environmental quality. The discovery adds to the rich biodiversity record of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.