Graphis indica J. Kalb & Kalb (2017: 146)

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 indica J. Kalb & Kalb (2017: 146) .

Synonym:— Hemithecium norsticticum Makhija & Dube , in: Makhija et al. (2005: 371), non Graphis norstictica A. W. Archer & Lücking , in: Lücking et al. (2009: 438).

Type:— INDIA. Maharashtra: Bhimashankar , 29 August 1974, M. B. Nagarkar & C. R. Kulkarni 74.784 ( AMH, holotype, not seen) .

Thallus corticolous, gray, dark gray to greenish gray, dull or distinctly glossy. Lirellae prominent to sessile, with a ± complete thalline margin, elongate, curved or sinuous, irregularly branched, 0.5–5 mm long, labia not pruinose, entire or indistinctly striate, convergent or slightly divergent, entire, disc closed or narrowly opened, slightly whitish pruinose ( balaghatensis -morph). Exciple light brownish, not carbonized; hymenium clear; ascospores 8/ascus, hyaline, transversely 7–14-septate, 30–48 × 5–8 μm (Thai collection), halonate, 7–14-septate, 25–56 × 7–8 μm (protologue).

Chemistry: norstictic acid (major) and subnorstictic acid (minor) (anal. K. Kalb).

Distribution and habitat:—This species is known from India and was reported for the first time from Thailand by J. Kalb & Kalb (2017) where it is growing on bark of a deciduous tree in a primary tropical rainforest at 1115 m.

Remarks:—A new name was necessary for this species when transferred to the genus Graphis , because there is a different species already named Graphis norstictica A. W. Archer & Lücking , in Lücking, Archer & Aptroot (2009) with a laterally carbonized exciple and muriform ascospores.

Graphis indica is very similar to G. balaghatensis , but differs mainly in having norstictic acid instead of stictic acid.

Material from Thailand examined:— Chiang Mai province: Mae On district; tambon Huai Kaeo, surroundings of Mae Kampong Waterfall , in a tropical rainforest, on bark of an unidentified tree, 1115 m. 18°51’33’’ N, 99°21’22’’ E, 13 December 2016, J. & K. Kalb 41769 (hb. K. &. J. Kalb) .