Additional new species in Roccellaceae s. l. from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Author
Jagadeesh Ram, T. A. M.
text
Phytotaxa
2016
2016-02-16
246
4
281
286
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.246.4.3
journal article
10.11646/phytotaxa.246.4.3
1179-3163
13679106
Gyrographa nigrofusca
Jagadeesh
,
sp. nov.
(
Figs 2A–D & 2G
)
MycoBank No.: MB 815259
Gyrographa
with endophloeodal inconspicuous thallus, simple to substellate lirelliform ascomata, 7-septate, 27–34 × 3–4.5 μm ascospores and lacking lichen substances.
Type:
—
INDIA
. Andaman Islands, Little Andaman,
R
.
K
. Pur, Vishnu Nala Dam forest,
30 m
,
4 May 2012
,
T
.
A
.
M
. Jagadeesh Ram 1668
(
Holotype
CAL
,
Isotype
PBL
).
Thallus
crustose, corticolous, endophloeodal, inconspicuous, irregular, up to
10 cm
across, greyish brown to brown, thin, indistinct, ecorticate, 12–35 μm thick; prothallus black; photobiont
Trentepohlia
, cells 6–12 × 4–8 μm.
Ascomata
few to numerous, scattered to even, lirelliform, usually simple, furcate, substellate, straight to flexuous, 0.6–2.5(–5) mm long, 0.2–0.35(–0.4) mm wide;
disc
a narrow slit, epruinose, rarely exposed.
Excipulum
continuing below the subhymenium, black, carbonized, 36–90 μm thick laterally, 60–150 μm thick at base,
K
+ olive-green.
Epihymenium
brownish, 11–15 μm thick,
K
–,
I
+ blue turns red.
Hymenium
colourless to pale brown, 42–68 μm high,
I
+ blue partly turns red, KI+ blue.
Subhymenium
pale brown, 8–15 μm thick, blue turns red, KI+ blue.
Paraphysoids
branched and anastomosing, 1–1.5 μm wide.
Asci
clavate, 8-spored, 42–62 × 12–17 μm.
Ascospores
colourless, fusiform, 6–7(–8) septate, 27–34 × 3–4.5 μm; perispore absent.
Pycnidia
not observed. Chemistry: Thallus
K
–,
C
–, KC–,
P
–,
UV
–;
I
–, KI– (in section); no lichen substances.
Notes:
—The genus
Gyrographa
has recently been established to accommodate the
Opegrapha
species
having thickened carbonized hypothecium or basal excipulum and lacking gelatinous perispores (Ertz
et al.
2015).
Gyrographa nigrofusca
is distinguished from the only other corticolous
Gyrographa gyrocarpa
(Flot.) Ertz & Tehler
by the nonsorediate thallus without secondary metabolites and the 7-septate ascospores while the latter has a sorediate thallus with gyrophoric acid and 3-septate ascospores.
Opegrapha dekeselii
Ertz
shows somewhat resemblance with the new species in having 7-septate ascospores and similar hymenial reaction with Iodine which is also common in the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
, but
Gyrographa nigrofusca
is distinct in having thickened excipulum and lacking perispores (
Ertz 2009
, Ertz
et al.
2015).
Distribution and habitat:
—
Gyrographa nigrofusca
was found on coastal to inland evergreen rainforests in the Andaman Islands.
Etymology:
—The specific epithet refers to its brown thallus and black ascomata.
Additional specimens examined:
—
INDIA
.
Andaman Islands
:
North Andaman
:
Coffee Dera
,
Lamba Baalu
, alt.
5 m
,
20 Mar. 2012
,
Jagadeesh Ram 1329
(
PBL
)
;
ibid
.,
Paget Island
Wildlife Sanctuary
,
10 m
,
21 Mar. 2012
,
Jagadeesh Ram
1364
(
PBL
). Little Andaman:
Hut Bay
,
Evergreen forest
along White Surf waterfall, alt.
30 m
,
2 May 2012
,
Jagadeesh Ram 1555, 1575
(
PBL
)
;
ibid
.,
R
.
K
.
Pur
,
Vishnu Nala Dam forest
,
30 m
,
4 May 2012
,
Jagadeesh Ram 1688
(
PBL
)
.