Thalline Margin Research Articles

Contribution to a modern treatment of Graphidaceae biodiversity in South Africa: genera of tribe Graphideae with hyaline ascospores

AbstractAdditions and corrections are provided for the South African species of Graphidaceae tribe Graphideae with hyaline ascospores. Allographa oldayana I. Medeiros sp. nov. is described as new to science based on morphological, chemical and molecular data. The new species is characterized by lirellae with striate labia and a complete thalline margin, a completely carbonized excipulum, large, muriform ascospores, and the presence of hirtifructic acid. Allographa consanguinea (Müll. Arg.) Lücking, A. leptospora (Vain.) Lücking & Kalb, Diorygma aff. minisporum Kalb et al., Graphis crebra Vain., Gr. dupaxana Vain., Gr. furcata Fée, Gr. handelii Zahlbr., Gr. longula Kremp., Gr. pinicola Zahlbr., Gr. proserpens Vain, Gr. subhiascens (Müll. Arg.) Lücking and Platythecium sp. are reported as new records for South Africa. Allographa striatula (Ach.) Lücking & Kalb, Graphis analoga Nyl. and Gr. scripta (L.) Ach. are shown to be misapplied names that should be removed from the South African checklist. The new combination Mangoldia bylii (Vain.) I. Medeiros comb. nov. (bas. Graphis bylii Vain) is made; this represents an earlier name for M. atronitens (A. W. Archer) Lücking et al. Taxonomic notes are provided for Graphis bylii var. lividula Vain. and Gr. denudans Vain., species that are known only from their South African holotypes. Phylogenetic analyses that include new DNA sequence data from the nrLSU, mtSSU and RPB2 loci confirm the generic placements of several species for which molecular data were lacking: Allographa consanguinea, Glyphis atrofusca (Müll. Arg.) Lücking, Graphis crebra and Gr. subhiascens.

New species and records of Chapsa (Graphidaceae) in China.

We studied the genus Chapsa in China based on morphological characteristics, chemical traits and molecular phylogenetic analysis. One species new to science (C.murioelongata M.Z. Dou & M. Li) and two records new to China were found (C.wolseleyana Weerakoon, Lumbsch & Lücking and C.niveocarpa Mangold). Chapsamurioelongatasp. nov. is characterised by its lobed thalline margin, orange discs with white pruina, clear hymenium, and submuriform and long ascospores. Chapsawolseleyana was recombined into Astrochapsa based on phenotypic traits. Sequences of this species are for the first time reported here and phylogenetic analyses of three loci (mtSSU, ITS and nuLSU) supported the position of this species within Chapsa. A key for the Chapsa species known in China is provided.

Caloplaca tephromelae(Teloschistaceae), a new lichenicolous species from Tasmania

AbstractCaloplaca tephromelaeKantvilas, Suija & Motiej., a lichenicolous species growing on saxicolous thalli of species ofTephromela, is described from Tasmania. The new species is characterized by lecanorine to zeorine apothecia with a whitish grey thalline margin devoid of anthraquinone pigments, a non-inspersed hymenium, paraphyses without oil vacuoles and ascospores 10–14 × 5–8 μm, with a septum 5–8 μm thick. It is compared with selected taxa ofCaloplacas. lat. that share these salient features. Molecular data support the distinctiveness of the new species but do not suggest any obvious close relatives.

Rinodina lecideopsis (Teloschistales, Physciaceae) a new endemic species from the central United States related to R. bischoffii

Rinodina lecideopsis is described as new to science. The species is characterized by the lecideine appearance of its apothecia due to the darkly pigmented cortex of the thalline margin and by a broad, hyaline proper exciple, which limits the algae to a narrow region at the base of the margin. The hymenium is densely inspersed with oil droplets and the spores are Bischoffii-type, both characters indicating a relationship with R. bischoffii. The new species belongs to a group of ecologically similar saxicolous lichens restricted to outcrops in tallgrass prairies, and glade openings in savannas and woodlands, fire-adapted ecosystems of the central United States. The biogeography and conservation needs of these lichens is briefly discussed.

Graphis and Allographa (lichenized Ascomycota: Graphidaceae) in Sri Lanka, with six new species and a biogeographical comparison investigating a potential signature of the ‘biotic ferry’ species interchange

AbstractWe provide an updated survey for Sri Lanka of species of Graphis sensu Staiger, recently divided into Graphis s. str. and Allographa, including brief descriptions and a key to all 124 species currently known. Six new species are described: Allographa bambusicola Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a bambusicolous Allographa with entire labia, a laterally carbonized excipulum, 80–100 × 15–17 µm large, muriform ascospores and a rather thick, irregularly verrucose lateral thalline margin of the lirellae; A. weerasooriyana Weerakoon, Arachchige & Lücking, a corticolous Allographa resembling A. rustica Kremp. in overall anatomy and chemistry, but with a verrucose thalline margin of the lirellae and labia not distinctly raised above the thalline margin; Graphis flosculifera Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a corticolous Graphis resembling G. insulana but differing in the unique disposition of the lirellae and the slightly more elongate ascospores; G. rajapakshana Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a corticolous Graphis resembling G. desquamescens, including in ascospore size, but with lirellae with a distinct lateral thalline margin; G. rimosothallina Weerakoon, Lücking & Aptroot, a corticolous Graphis with a thick, uneven, rimose thallus and Fissurina-like lirellae, a completely carbonized excipulum and transversely 7-septate ascospores, 32–37 × 8–10 µm; and G. thunsinhalayensis Weerakoon, Arachchige & Lücking, a corticolous Graphis resembling G. subalbostriata but with smaller ascospores and lacking white lines between the striae of the labia. We also validate the name G. verrucoserpens Lücking. A total of 106 species are reported here for the first time from Sri Lanka. A biogeographical comparison with two other well-sampled countries (Costa Rica and Thailand) revealed a significantly higher similarity in species composition with Costa Rica than between Thailand and Costa Rica, suggesting a potential signature of the ‘biotic ferry’ hypothesis, that is the migration of lineages from Gondwana (partly corresponding to the modern Neotropics) via the north-eastwards drifting Indian subcontinent and subsequent interchange with Laurasia (partly corresponding to the modern eastern Paleotropics). However, the evolutionary timeline of the clades involved does not support this hypothesis and suggests an alternative explanation of geologically more recent mid- to long-distance dispersal.

Lecanora muscigena (Lichenized Ascomycota, Lecanorales), a new lichen species in the Lecanora fuscescens group from South Georgia

ABSTRACTCompared to continental Antarctica, the lichen biota of the various subantarctic islands and island groups is poorly documented. Here we describe the new species Lecanora muscigena Øvstedal & Fryday from the subantarctic island of South Georgia from a collection made in 1980 that was previously included as Trapeliopsis sp. A. by Øvstedal & Lewis Smith in their comprehensive account of the Lichens of Antarctica and South Georgia. It is similar to Lecidea globulispora Nyl., which occurs on the nearby Falkland Islands, in having globose ascospores but is clearly distinguished from that species by having a well-developed, creamy-white thallus composed of ±dispersed areoles with effigurate margins containing fumarprotocetraric acid, larger ascospores (c. 7–8 µm diam.) and by its habitat of overgrowing terricolous bryophytes. The new species belongs in the Lecanora fuscescens group, the species of which were usually described in the genus Lecidea due to their poorly developed thalline margin. This group is not congeneric with the type species of Lecanora (L. subfusca (L.) Ach.) but we refrain from erecting a new genus for the group pending a full molecular investigation of its delimitation and systematic position.

Three new species, new combinations and a key to known species ofLobothallia(Megasporaceae)

AbstractThree species,Lobothallia brachylobaPaukov & I. V. Frolov,L. epiadelphaPaukov & A. Nordin andL. zogtiiPaukov & Davydov, from arid regions of Eurasia (Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Mongolia) are described as new to science.Lobothallia brachylobahas flat, firmly attached lobes, immersed apothecia lacking a distinct thalline margin, and contains norstictic acid. BothLobothallia epiadelphaandL. zogtiicontain stictic acid and have a brown thallus and sessile apothecia.Lobothallia epiadelphainitially develops on crustoseCircinariaspp, has thick lobes loosely attached to the substratum, and brown apothecial discs with constant thalline margins.Lobothallia zogtiiis a free-living species with brownish black to jet black apothecial discs surrounded by a receding thalline margin.Lecanora bogdoënsisis synonymized withLobothallia praeradiosaandLobothallia helanensisis synonymized withL. subdiffracta. Three new combinations,Lobothallia hedinii(H. Magn.) Paukov, A. Nordin & Sohrabi,L. lacteola(Oxner) Şenkardeşler, Paukov, Davydov & Sohrabi, andL. subdiffracta(H. Magn.) Paukov, are proposed. Phylogenetic analyses ofLobothallia brachyloba,L. epiadelphaandL. subdiffracta(ITS, mtSSU) are presented, showing their relationships withinLobothallia. The lectotype of the nameAspicilia lacteolaOxner is designated. A key to 18 species ofLobothalliais provided.

A new saxicolous Circinaria species (Megasporaceae) from northeast China

In an investigation of Circinaria species in volcanic mountains of northeast China, one new species, C. laxilobata was identified based on morphological characteristics and DNA sequence data. The new species differs morphologically from other members of the C. contorta group by its greenish olive, thin thallus with dispersed areoles and elongated, diverging, branching marginal areoles distinctly delimited from the inner part, round apothecia with entire thalline margin, moniliform paraphyses, asci with 1–2 ellipsoid spores, and the absence of secondary metabolites. Comparisons of the ITS sequences of the nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat tandem, both in phylogenetic analyses and secondary structure models of ITS2, support the taxonomic distinctness of this species. The new species is described and illustrated in detail. A key to the species of Circinaria from China is also provided.

The genus Halegrapha new to Hawaii, with the new and potentially endemic species H. paulseniana and an updated checklist of Hawaiian lirellate Graphidaceae (Ascomycota: Ostropales)

The new species Halegrapha paulseniana Luch & Lucking is described from Hawaii, which constitutes the first report of the genus for this archipelago. The new species differs from the most similar taxon, H. mexicana, in the much larger lirellae featuring an apically complete, thin thalline margin, and from all other species in the genus by its laterally mostly uncarbonized excipulum. We provide nomenclatural updates for the 70 species of lirellate Graphidaceae reported from Hawaii so far, introducing the following nomenclatural novelties: Allographa gracilescens (Redinger) Luch & Lucking, comb. & stat. nov., Fissurina homichlodes (Redinger) Luch & Lucking, comb. nov., Fissurina stromatoides (H. Magn.) Luch & Lucking, comb. nov., Fissurina zahlbruckneriana Luch & Lucking, nom. nov., Phaeographis caesiohians (Nyl.) Luch & Lucking, comb. nov., Phaeographis faurieana (Zahlbr.) Luch & Lucking, comb. nov., Phaeographis fulgurata (Fee) Luch & Lucking, comb. nov., Phaeographis oscitans (Tuck.) Luch & Lucking, comb. nov., Phaeographis rhodoplaca (Mull. Arg.) Luch & Lucking, comb. nov., Platygramme kaalensis (Tuck.) Luch & Lucking, comb. & stat. nov., Platygramme tumulata (Nyl.) Luch & Lucking, comb. nov. and Sarcographa dendroides (Leight.) Tabaquero, Bawingan & Lucking, comb. nov. (validated from an earlier, intended new combination that was not validly published).

Caloplaca sol(Teloschistaceae), a new coastal lichen from Great Britain

AbstractCaloplaca solis described as a new species from limestone and basic siliceous rocks on the southern and western coasts of Great Britain. It is characterized by a well-developed, crustose, non-placodioid, epilithic, cracked, orange-yellow thallus, almost concolorous apothecia up to 0·66 mm diameter, and ascosporesc. 11·0–12·2–13·0 µm long with a septumc. 0·4×the ascospore length.Caloplaca dalmaticais related but differs in the endolithic or only thinly epilithic thallus.Caloplaca marinais darker orange in colour, with more convex areoles, and is mostly confined to the splash zone of the seashore.Caloplaca maritimadiffers in the typically more convex, sometimes isolated areoles, and often in the presence of a crenulate thalline margin in young apothecia.Caloplaca itianais newly reported from Great Britain from coastal limestone; it differs fromC. solin the thallus being endolithic or almost so, and fromC. dalmaticain the more completely endolithic thallus and the larger ascospores.

A new record, Graphis anfractuosa, and an updated taxonomic key of Graphis from Vietnam

Graphis anfractuosa is described as new record from the low land parts of southern Vietnam. The species is characterized by lirellae having entire labia, lacking or with basal thalline margin, completely carbonized proper exciple, inspersed hymenium, transversely 6–9-septate, 20–27 × 5–8 μm ascospores, and absence of secondary compounds. In addition, a revised key for thirty five species of Graphis, so far known from the country is also provided.

New and interesting species in the family Graphidaceae (Ascomycota: Ostropales) from Vietnam

AbstractThe lowland area of southern Vietnam contains a high diversity of corticolous, crustose lichens, particularly in the family Graphidaceae. Two species, Acanthothecis verrucosa S. Joshi, Upreti & Hur and Graphis exuta S. Joshi, Upreti & Hur, are described new to science. Acanthothecis verrucosa is characterized by a verrucose, olive green thallus containing irregular to shortly lirellate apothecia, hyaline to brownish proper exciple apically lined by robust periphysoids, muriform ascospores, 30–70 × 15–20 μm, and the presence of psoromic and subpsoromic acids. Graphis exuta is characterized by a smooth, greenish white thallus, simple lirellae lacking thalline margin, entire labia coarsely white pruinose towards slit, muriform ascospores, 20–35×10–13 μm, and norstictic acid in the thallus. A new name, Acanthothecis yokdonensis S. Joshi & Hur, is proposed here for the species Acanthothecis salazinica S. Joshi & Hur, a later homonym of A. salazinica van den Boom & Sipman. In addition, 34 species from Vietnam are newly reported. A world key to the group of Graphis species characterized by short, simple and sessile lirellae lacking or with basal thalline margins (nuda-morph) is presented.

Ducatina umbilicatagen. et sp. nov., a remarkableTrapeliaceaefrom the subantarctic islands in the Indian Ocean

AbstractThe new genus and speciesDucatina umbilicatais described from Îles Crozet and Îles Kerguelen. This lichen is characterized by an umbilicate thallus with a black verrucose lower surface and a greyish to dark olivaceous smooth upper surface having large verrucae, large semi-immersed cephalodia, semi-immersed apothecia with a prominent thalline margin, simple, mainly ellipsoid ascospores of 23–42×12–25 µm and the presence of unknown chemical compounds. Phylogenetic analyses using nuLSU and mtSSU sequences placeDucatinain theTrapeliaceae(Baeomycetales). The new taxon is closely related toOrceolina antarcticaandO.kerguelensis, two other lichens endemic to these subantarctic islands, differing by its morphology and the lack of chemical compounds.Ducatinais the only genus in theTrapeliaceaeto develop a large umbilicate thallus.

Insights into the genus Austrella (Pannariaceae, Peltigerales), including a new species from the Falkland Islands

AbstractThe new species Austrella isidioidea, which is unique in the genus in having isidioid structures on the thallus lobe ends as well as apothecia lacking a thalline margin, is described from the Falkland Islands. A collection with an identical mtSSU rDNA sequence to A. arachnoidea but with significant morphological differences (viz. a variable apothecial margin ranging from an arachnoid hyphal weft to a corticated regular margin) is reported from Îles Kerguelen. The phylogenetic and biogeographical implications of these new records are discussed.

<div class="page" title="Page 1"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column">A new species of Graphis (Graphidaceae: Lichenized Ascomycota) and a revised key of the genus in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil</div></div></div>

(A new species of Graphis [Graphidaceae: Lichenized Ascomycota] and a revised key of the genus in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil). In this paper we describe a new species of the lichen genus Graphis, namely G. suzanae Koch & Feuerstein. This species is characterized mainly by lirellae with entire labia, a partially exposed disc with orange pigment in the epithecium, a lateral thalline margin, a laterally carbonized excipulum, a clear hymenium, and transversely septate ascospores measuring 40–44 × 8–10 μm. The chemistry of the species was assessed through TLC analysis. A complete key with G. suzanae and 56 more species of Graphis that where previously recorded to the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, is included.

New and overlooked species from the Galapagos Islands: the generic concept ofDiploiciareassessed

AbstractThree new species ofDiploiciaare described from the Galapagos Islands and a fourth,D. glebosa, is transferred fromPyxine; all four are considered endemic to the archipelago. In order to accommodate these species, the generic concept ofDiploiciahas been emended. Two of the species are sterile;D. leproidicais placodioid-leproid, where the thalli derive from pseudocorticate granules aggregating into small, placodioid rosettes with distinctly lobate margins. The second sterile species,D. squamulosa, forms scattered squamules that eventually aggregate into small, placodioid rosettes. The two fertile species,D. glebosa, with an olivaceous to beige, smooth, epruinose upper surface, andD. neotropica, with a white to grey-white, roughened, pruinose upper surface, form larger thalli typical ofDiploicia, have apothecia that are initially lecideine, but are soon engulfed and hidden by a thick thalline margin. Anatomically the proper exciple remains visible for a considerable part of the ontogeny, although it eventually becomes almost completely reduced to a few pigmented or almost hyaline hyphae. This transition from lecideine to lecanorine apothecia is similar to thephysciaeformis-type ontogeny observed in somePyxinespecies. Several species currently accommodated inBuellias. lat. with diploicin and effigurate thalli that lack distinctly lobate margins are discussed and the Socotran endemicPhyscia endopyxineais transferred intoDiploicia.

Parvoplaca nigroblastidiata, a new corticolous lichen (Teloschistaceae) in Europe, Turkey and Alaska

AbstractIn a recent phylogenetic analysis of the familyTeloschistaceaebased on three molecular markers, 31 genera were newly described or resurrected. One of these genera wasParvoplaca, currently including four species in which anthraquinones may be present or absent in the apothecia. We have re-analyzed the genus and propose one new species,P. nigroblastidiataArup, Halıcı & Vondrák, and one new combination,P. chelyae(Pérez-Vargas) Vondrák, Halıcı & Arup. The new species is known at present from Sweden, Turkey and Alaska. It is characterized by an endophloedal thallus, black blastidia produced in small spots and zeorin-lecanorine apothecia with an orange disc and black thalline margin. It is morphologically similar toCaloplaca turkuensis, but differs in the zeorine-lecanorine apothecia and the thalline margin that is dark grey-black instead of grey.

Una especie nueva y peculiar de Graphis (Ascomycota: Ostropales: Graphidaceae) de la selva alta perennifolia de Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, México

Graphis robertusii (G. robertusii) Bárcenas-Peña, Herrera-Campos and Miranda is described for the first time from the tropical rain forest in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz. It is a conspicuous species characterized by erumpent lirella with lateral thalline margin separated from the excipulum, labia entire and white pruinose, completely carbonized excipulum, inspersed hymenium, transversally septate spores, and stictic, salazinic and constictic acids as secondary metabolites. G. robertusii was found on cortex at the canopy of several sites within Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz and it is one of the most abundant corticolous crustose lichen species in the region.

Three Placynthiaceae Reported New to Asia from Limestone in Turkey, with the Description of the Apothecia ofPlacynthium posterulum

Aptroot, A.,Yazici, K. & Košuthová, A. 2015. Three Placynthiaceae reported new to Asia from limestone in Turkey, with the description of the apothecia of Placynthium posterulum. — Herzogia 28: 288–292.Collolechia caesia, Placynthium hungaricum, and P. posterulum are reported for the first time from Asia from limestone outcrops in Turkey. The apothecia of Placynthium posterulum, which were so far unknown, are described: They have a thalline margin, a character that within the genus is only shared with P. stenophyllum.

Graphis yunnanensis (Ostropales, Graphidaceae), a New Lichen Species from China

Graphis yunnanensis is described here as a new species. It is taxonomically well characterized by entire labia, slit-like disc, lateral thalline margin, completely carbonized proper exciple, inspersed hymenium, 8-spored asci, muriform 25~45 × 8~12 μm ascospores, and the presence of norstictic and stictic acids. The separation of the new species from other somewhat similar Graphis species is discussed. In addition, the study includes Graphis tenoriensis and Phlyctis karnatakana reported for the first time from China.