Graphis emersella 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 emersella J. Kalb, Lücking & Kalb , sp. nov. Fig. 4H .

Mycobank MB 827642

Similar to Graphis emersa Müller Arg. (1893: 132) , but differs in having hossei -morph lirellae ( nuda -morph in G. emersa ) and less septate and smaller ascospores (7–11-septate, 30–40 × 7–9 μm in G. emersa ).

Type:— THAILAND. Pattani province. Khok Pho district, tambon Thung Phala , in the area of Aran Warin waterfall, on bark of an unidentified tree, 40 m, 06°37’55’’ N, 101°10’59’’ E, 11 August 2012, J. Sutjaritturakan 4801 ( RAMK, holotype) .

Etymology:—The specific epithet refers to the similarity with Graphis emersa .

Thallus corticolous, white or whitish gray, up to 3 cm diam., 25–35 μm thick, continuous, corticate, prothallus indistinct, surface smooth, dull. Thallus in section with upper cortex, up to 10 μm high, with irregular algal layer up to 10 μm high, all layers without crystals. Lirellae prominent without or basal thalline margin, short, up to 2.5 mm long and 0.1–0.15 mm wide, 0.15 mm high, straight, curved or sinuous, unbranched or scarcely trifurcately branched, labia convergent, entire, black, not pruinose, disc closed, not visible from above, (hossei- morph). Exciple completely carbonized, 35– 60 μm wide; hypothecium 10–15 μm high, ± brownish; hymenium 60–75 μm high, clear, epihymenium indistinct. Paraphyses unbranched; asci elongate claviform, ca. 50–65 × 10–55 μm. Ascospores 8/ascus, hyaline, transversely 3–7-septate, 15–20 × 6–7 μm, with a ± thin halo up to 1 μm thick, I+ blue.

Chemistry: norstictic acid (major), connorstictic acid (trace).

Distribution and habitat:—Known from three provinces of South Thailand where it was collected in a reforestation and near a waterfall between 4 and 45 m elevation.

Remarks:—Many Graphis species, especially those with large ascospores, show a ± great variation of spore dimensions. Therefore, it is normally difficult to describe a new species based on slightly different spore size. But in this case, we did not hesitate to opt for the description of a new species, because we have got three ± identical samples from three different provinces. Furthermore, although they were collected from bark of unidentified trees, it is most probably the same tree species, judging from the characteristic bark.

Material from Thailand examined (paratypes):— Chumphon province: Lamae district, tambon Thung Luang, surroundings of Tham Khao Plu hot springs, on bark of an unidentified tree in a reforestation, 4 m, 09°43’27’’ N, 99°06’22’’ E, 31 August 2009, J. Sutjaritturakan 1291 & R. Nokkhao (hb. K. & J. Kalb 42369)— Trang province: Sikao district , surroundings of Angtong Waterfall, on bark of an unidentified tree, 45 m, 07°33’10’’ N, 99°24’45’’ E, 29 May 2012, J. Sutjaritturakan 4704 (hb. K. & J. Kalb 42371) .

Figures

FIGURE 4.A. Graphis conferta (scale = 0.2 mm); B. Graphis copelandii (scale = 1 mm); C. Graphis crebra (scale = 0.3 mm); D. Graphis cycasicola (scale = 0.5 mm); E. Graphis deserpens (scale = 0.5 mm); F. Graphis geraensis (scale = 0.4 mm); G. Graphis duplicata (scale = 0.4 mm); H. Graphis emersella (scale = 0.3 mm).