Chapsa pulchra (Müller Arg. 1891: 395) Mangold

Kalb, Jutarat & Kalb, Klaus, 2017, New lichen species from Thailand, new combinations and new additions to the Thai lichen biota, Phytotaxa 332 (2), pp. 141-156 : 144-145

Chapsa pulchra (Müller Arg. 1891: 395) Mangold in Mangold et al. (2009: 654). ( Fig. 1C )

This species is characterized by a pale grey thallus, conspicuous ascomata with a white pruinose disc, 11–20-transversely septate, hyaline, I– ascospores, 30–55 × 6–8 μm and absence of secondary lichen products.

Distribution and habitat:— Chapsa pulchra was previously reported as being endemic for Australia where it is common in rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests in eastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales ( Mangold et al. 2009).

Material examined from Thailand:— Chumphon province: Lamae district ; in a rubber tree plantation ( Hevea brasiliensis ), 40 m, 09°42’ N, 99°00’ E, 4 April 2012, K. Kalb et al. 39153 (Hb. K. Kalb)— Loei province: Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary, Khok Nok Kraba Ranger Station , Tha Sala , Phu Ruea , in a lower montane scrub, 1555 m, 17°16’39’’ N, 101°31’33’’ E, 11 November 2008, V. Poengsungnoen RU-VP-LO_001 ( RAMK 030387 , 030388 ) .

Remarks:— Chapsa indica A. Massal. is habitually very similar, but easily distinguished by having much larger ascospores with more septa (17–34-septate, 50–100 × 7–11 μm). The other Chapsa species reported from Thailand differ in having muriform ascospores ( C. discoides (Stirt.) Lücking , C. laemensis (Homchant. & Coppins) Lumbsch & Papong , C. leprocarpa (Nyl.) Frisch , leprocarpoides (Hale) M. Cáceres & Lücking and C. patens (Nyl.) Frisch ). Chapsa imperfecta (Hale) Rivas Plata & Mangold which has more or less the same spore size is distinguished in having ascocarps with a layered exciple and a non-pruinose disc and C. alborosella (Nyl.) Frisch differs in having smaller ascospores with less septa (5–9-septate, 17–22 × 3–6 μm).

Constrictolumina leucostoma (Müller Arg. 1885: 257) Lücking, M. P. Nelsen & Aptroot in Aptroot & Lücking (2016: 920). ( Fig. 1D )

This species is characterized by a whitish to brownish thallus, solitary (in the Thai collection) to grouped ascomata and small (17–22 × 6–8 μm), hyaline, 3-septate ascospores.

Distribution and habitat:— Constrictolumina leucostoma was reported from the USA, Bahamas and Antilles ( Aptroot & Lücking 2016) and is here reported for the first time from the Palaeotropics. It was collected in eastern Thailand in an old, but disturbed mangrove forest.

Material examined from Thailand:— Trat province: Mueang district ; Ban Pak Klong Num Chiew, in a disturbed mangrove forest, 3 m, 12°10’25’’ N, 102°28’37’’ E, 15 January 2012, K. Kalb et al. 40863, det. A. Aptroot (Hb. K. Kalb) .

Remarks:—Only one species of Constrictolumina , a recent segregate within Trypetheliaceae ( Aptroot & Lücking 2016) , viz. C. cinchonae (Ach.) Lücking was previously reported from Thailand. C. leucostoma is easily separated from that species in having 3-septate ascospores (1-septate in C. cinchonae ). C. constrictolumina was reported from USA, Bahamas and Antilles. Our collection is a new record for the Palaeotropics.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. Acanthothecis consocians (J.S. & K.K., KK37067; scale 0.5 mm); B. Caloplaca bassiae (J.K. & K.K, KJK 41911; scale 0.4 mm); C. Chapsa pulchra (K.K. et al., KK 39153; scale 0.5 mm); D. Constrictolumina leucostoma (K.K. et al., KK 40863; scale 0.5 mm); E. Allographa stictilabiata, section through ascoma showing the striate exciple (scale 100 μm); F. Allographa stictilabiata (K.K. & Poengsungnoen, KK 38768; scale 1 mm); G. Graphis aphaneomicrospora (K.K. et al., KK 38387; scale 0.8 mm); H. Graphis balaghatensis (J.S. & K.K., KJK 41380; scale 0.5 mm).