Graphis albocarpa J. Kalb, Lücking & Kalb, 2018

Kalb, Jutarat, Lücking, Robert & Kalb, Klaus, 2018, The lichen genera Allographa and Graphis (Ascomycota: Ostropales, Graphidaceae) in Thailand-eleven new species, forty-seven new records and a key to all one hundred and fifteen species so far recorded for the country, Phytotaxa 377 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

** Graphis albocarpa J. Kalb, Lücking & Kalb , sp. nov. Fig. 3B .

Mycobank MB 827641

Similar to Graphis glaucescens Fée , but differs in having lirellae with a laterally to completely carbonized exciple (apically to laterally carbonized in G. glaucescens ), larger ascospores with more numerous septa (48–56 × 8–9.5 μm, 8–11-septate in G. glaucescens ) and in producing norstictic acid as a major metabolite (no secondary lichen products in G. glaucescens ).

Type:— THAILAND. Ratchaburi province: Suan Phueng district, tambon Suan Phueng , trail to Khao Jone waterfall, bamboo scrub with scattered deciduous trees along a creek, 200–250 m, 13°31’31’’ N, 99°14’24’’E, 11 December 2015, J. Sutjaritturakan & K. Kalb 41310 ( RAMK, holotype) .

Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to the whitish lirellae.

Thallus corticolous, pale gray to white, 15 cm diam., 80–110 μm thick, continuous, mostly ecorticate or marginally with a very thin cortex, prothallus white, surface uneven, dull or marginally glossy. Thallus in section usually without upper cortex, with irregular algal layer up to 50 μm high and clusters of crystals. Lirellae flexuose, partly branched, immersed to erumpent, with thick lateral and thinner or abraded apical thalline margin (well developed lirellae with a ± complete thalline margin), up to 3 mm long, 0.3–0.4 mm wide, 0.3 mm high; disc concealed ( glaucescens -morph); labia entire, covered by a white thalline cover or at least white pruinose-hyphose along the slit. Excipulum entire, laterally to completely carbonized, 75 μm wide, black; laterally covered by corticate algiferous thallus including clusters of crystals; hypothecium 10–20 μm high, pale to black brownish; hymenium ca. 120 μm high, colorless; epithecium indistinct. Paraphyses unbranched; asci elongate claviform, ca. 100 μm long, 25 μm wide. Ascospores (4–) 6 (–8) per ascus, with 11–21 transverse septa, (45–) 60–80 × 7–11 μm, colorless, I+ violet.

Chemistry: norstictic acid (major), subnorstictic acid (submajor to minor), connorstictic acid (submajor to minor), (anal. K. Kalb).

Distribution and habitat:—The new species was collected in North and Central Thailand in a light hill evergreen forest and in dry bamboo scrubs from 200–440 m elevation.

Remarks:— Graphis albocarpa is characterized by medium-sized, transversely septate ascospores, an almost completely carbonized exciple and the presence of norstictic acid as a major compound. It is similar to G. glaucescens , but this species usually has an apically carbonized exciple and does not produce lichen substances. Another species with medium-sized, transversely septate ascospores, a completely carbonized exciple and producing norstictic acid is Graphis nigrocarpa Adaw. & Makhija , but the latter differs in having subserpentina -morph lirellae and a distinctly corticate thallus.

Material from Thailand examined:— Chiang Mai province: Chiang Dao district, tambon Chiang Dao, surroundings of Wat Tham Chiang Dao , in a very disturbed, light hill evergreen forst, on bark of an unidentified deciduous tree, 440 m, 19°23’43’’ N, 98°55’46’’ E, 2 December 2016, J. & K. Kalb s.n. (hb. K. & J. Kalb 41310)— Kanchanaburi province: Sai Yok district , along the trail from Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum to the Konyu Cutting, on a freestanding deciduous tree, 250 m, 14°21’12’’ N, 98°57’17’’ E, 15 December 2015, J. Sutjaritturakan & K. Kalb s.n. (hb. K. & J. Kalb 41344, 41345)— Ratchaburi province: Suan Phueng district , tambon Suan Phueng, trail to Khao Jone waterfall, bamboo scrub with scattered deciduous trees along a creek, 200–250 m, 13°31’31’’ N, 99°14’24’’E, 11 December 2015, J. Sutjaritturakan & K. Kalb s.n. (hb. K. & J. Kalb 41289, 41293, 41298, 41316); dito, dry bamboo scrub with scattered deciduous trees, 230 m, 13°28’38’’ N, 99°14’35’’ E, 12 December 2015, J. Sutjaritturakan & K. Kalb s.n. (hb. K. & J. Kalb 41319) .

Figures

FIGURE 3. A. Allographa vestitoides (scale = 1 mm); B. Graphis albocarpa (scale = 0.5 mm); C. Graphis apertella (scale = 0.3 mm); D. Graphis aurita (scale = 0.4 mm); E. Graphis bakeri (scale = 0.4 mm); F. Graphis caesiella (scale = 0.5 mm); G. Graphis capillacea (scale = 0.4 mm); H. Graphis chlorotica (scale = 0.5 mm).