Lichen

 Lichens are composite organisms. In a lichen, algae and cyanobacteria live among the filaments of a fungus, They help each other to survive. The fungus benefits by the relationship, because algae and cyanobacteria produce food by photosynthesis. The algae and bacteria benefit as they are protected by the filaments of the fungus, which also attracts moisture. 
Lichens can grow on bare rock, or on living trees too. They use the branches only for support. They can survive in very harsh environments.

Lichens come in different colours and textures. I found orange, black and white lichens on the rock above.
Some lichen found in the Western Ghats is a major component of the curry powder. Now,I believe it is forbidden to gather those lichens from the forest.
Lichens warn us of pollution in the air. They are useful for assessing pollution levels.
I thank Mrs.Nesbitt, the founder of ABCWednesday, and Roger and his team who so ably are carrying it forward.

Desert Grass- Stipagrotis

 The desert grasses play an important role in holding the shifting sands of the desert with their roots. The Stipagrotis which is found in the Thar desert, looks like pale gold hair. The flowers are very tiny and are wind pollinated.

The roots of the grass are home to nitrogen fixing bacteria.The clumps of grass act as a shady retreat for small birds and animals in the relentless heat of the desert.
I came across this grass in the Rao Jodha Deser Rock Park in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

Job's Tear Grass

 The curious grass in these pictures grows beads with holes to string them! Village children love to gather the 'beads' and make necklaces and other jewelry out of them. The 'beads' have a natural pearly sheen. They can be easily dyed or painted.

Coix lacrymis jobi, or Job's tear grass grows in swampy places in the tropics. It is usually seen at the edge of coffee plantations. It is called Hullu Mani in Kannada.It is used as a fodder for cattle. Wild elephants are said to be fond of this grass. In Nagaland, the grain is brewed to make a beer. The grain is said to be highly nutritious.

East Indian Screw Tree

 Helicteris isora, the East Indian Screw tree has attractive orange flowers. The fruit of the tree is curiously shaped like a screw. The tree is a small one, more like a bush.When in flower, the tree is abuzz with honeybees.

The roots of this tree are used to treat stomach ailments like colic and gastritis.

Wildflower Rhynchoglossum notonianum

 This plant belongs to the family Gesnariaceae. The intense blue flowers make the tiny plant very attractive.

I came across these beauties in Valparai, in Tamil Nad. These plants were clinging to some moss covered walls.

Insectivorous Plant- Bladderwort

 I came across these Striped Bladderwort plants last weekend while walking in the Western Ghats.They get their necessary protein by consuming small insects .The leeches got at me  while trying to photograph them. They had their fill of protein anyway.

The botanical name of this plant is Utricularia striatula, belonging to the family Lentibulariaceae.

Foxtail Orchid

 The Foxtail orchid Rhynchostylis retusa is called Kopou phool in Assam, and Draupadi Dande in Karnataka.It flowers profusely just before the onset of the monsoons. The flowers are arranged close together so that they resemble a fox's tail.

The Foxtail orchid is a native of India and SriLanka. It occurs in the forests of the Western Ghats in the wild. The beautiful flowers last almost a month.
The plant has medicinal uses.