Carbacanthographis yunnanensis Shu H. Jiang & Z.F. Jia, 2024

Jiang, Shu-Hao, Hao, Cheng-Yue, Zhao, Xin & Jia, Ze-Feng, 2024, New species and record in the genus Carbacanthographis (lichenized Ascomycota, Graphidaceae) from China, Phytotaxa 670 (4), pp. 285-292 : 287-289

Carbacanthographis yunnanensis Shu H. Jiang & Z.F. Jia , sp. nov. Fig. 2

Differing from Carbacanthographis marcescens in the completely carbonized excipulum and the longer ascospores, and the absence of salazinic and norstictic acids. Mycobank No.: MB 853713 Type:— China. Yuannan Province: Gejiu City, Manhao County, Mt. Malongdi. 1280 m elev., 103°20′48″E, 23°01′16″N, on bark, 23

September 2011, Z.F. Jia 11–492 (LCUF– holotype).

Description: —Thallus crustose, corticolous, ecorticate, pale gray, epiperidermal, continuous, smooth, dull, tightly attached to the substratum; lacking isidia and soredia; prothallus absent. Ascomata lirellate, prominent to sessile, straight or sinuous, scattered, short, unbranched to sparsely branched, not striate, 1–2.5 mm long, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, terminally rounded. Thalline margin distinct, laterally covering the proper excipulum, with indistinct patches of calcium oxalate crystals. Labia well developed, covered by a thin, white pruina, entire. Disc concealed, with slit-like appearance. Proper excipulum not striate, convergent, completely carbonized, 25–45 μm thick laterally, 30–35 μm thick at the base. Hymenium hyaline, not inspersed, 70–80 μm high, I–; Hypothecium hyaline, 7–11 μm high. Paraphyses parallel, simple or branched, septate, 2.0–2.5 μm wide, smooth at the tips. Periphysoids develop from the lateral proper excipulum, 3.5–5 μm wide, distinctly warty at the tips. Asci clavate, 8-spored, 55.5–63.5 × (13–) 18.5–25 μm. Ascospores hyaline, long ellipsoidal, submuriform, 4–6 × 0–1-septate, 21–25 × 7–8 μm, I–, not surrounded by a gelatinous layer. Pycnidia not observed.

Chemistry and spot tests: —Thallus K–, C–, P+ orange–red, UV–. TLC: protocetraric acid.

Etymology: —The specific epithet “ yunnanensis ” is derived from the type region of the new species.

Distribution and habitat: —Known only from the type locality, Mt. Malongdi in Yunnan, South China. The new species grows on bark at medium altitudes.

Notes: —This new species is characterized by an ecorticate thallus, prominent to sessile lirellae with lateral thalline margin, entire labia, completely carbonized excipulum, warty periphysoid tips, hyaline hymenium, 4–6 × 0–1- septate ascospores (21–25 × 7–8 μm) and the presence of protocetraric acid. Carbacanthographis yunnanensis can be distinguished from the externally similar C. marcescens by the completely carbonized excipulum and the lack of salazinc and norstictic acids chemistry.

FIGTURE 2. Carbacanthographis yunnanensis (LCUF 11–492); A, B. Thallus with prominent to sessile, completely carbonized lirellae (scale = 0.2 mm). C. Apothecia section and warty periphysoids (scale = 100 μm). D. Apothecia section (in polarized light) showing with indistinct patches of calcium oxalate crystals (scale = 100 μm). E–H. Asci (scale = 20 μm). I. Paraphyses (scale = 50 μm). K–M. Ascospore, not surrounded by a gelatinous layer (scale = 20 μm).

This new species would be placed in the world key of Carbacanthographis by Feuerstein et al. (2022) in group key 3 at couplet 11 as: Ascospores 8-per ascus, 21–25 × 7–8 μm; protocetraric acid.