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Molecular phylogenetic analysis presents two challenges when it is transformed into formal classifications: the taxonomic challenge (whether and how to distinguish monophyletic sister clades or how to deal with paraphyletic grades) and the nomenclatural challenge (naming clades, i.e. placing name-giving types accurately on a tree). One approach to the latter is morphology-based phylogenetic binning, which places specimens based on phenotypic features on a molecular tree and assigns uncertainty values to alternative placement options. Here, we use the example of the lichenized fungal genus L eptotrema to demonstrate how morphology-based phylogenetic binning can help to clarify taxonomic and nomenclatural issues when naming phylogenetically defined entities. L eptotrema is known for a common and widespread species, L . wightii, and phylogenetic analyses have been based exclusively on this species, including the recognition of a separate tribe, Leptotremateae. However, the genus name L eptotrema and the tribal name Leptotremateae are based on the name L . zollingeri, which was initially considered to be a synonym of L . wightii, but has recently been shown to represent a distinct species. As L . zollingeri differs considerably in phenotypic features from L . wightii, it can be questioned whether the two are at all related or whether L . zollingeri is actually closer to the genera M yriotrema and O cellularia in tribe Ocellularieae. The solution to this problem is not trivial, as it affects the correct use of the names Leptotrema and Leptotremateae. Morphology-based phylogenetic binning indeed demonstrated that L . zollingeri clusters with the M yriotrema album group in tribe Ocellularieae with high support. Hence, in contrast with current use, the name L eptotrema becomes available for the M . album group and Leptotremateae becomes a synonym of Ocellularieae. As a consequence, the new names S anguinotrema and Sanguinotremateae are introduced to accommodate L . wightii and the tribe including this species and the genus R eimnitzia. Although the studied case is specific to lichen fungi, the approach can be used in a much broader context with any kind of taxon or organism. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 179, 436-443. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of research. With more than 2000 described species, Graphidaceae represents one of the largest families of lichenized fungi. The underlying causes for such a high level of diversity have not yet been studied in detail. Two possible drivers of high diversity in this group include its predominantly tropical habitat, a major factor for high species richness in other groups of organisms, and the presence of columella, a unique trait within this family. Methodology. We employed a combination of comparative methods to investigate possible factors that are associated with the hyperdiverse nature of the family, including modeling evolutionary diversity using stepwise Akaike information criterion (MEDUSA) to identify clades with an increased diversification rate and binary state speciation and extinction (BiSSE) analysis to determine whether diversification rates change in association with selected character states. Pivotal results. BiSSE analysis revealed a significantly higher diversification rate in the lineages with presence of a columella, while there was no significant difference in diversification rates between tropical and nontropical lineages. A further analysis with MEDUSA also identified two or three diversification rate shifts, one of which occurred in the Ocellularia clade, with a large number of species with a columella. Conclusions. The results suggest a stronger role of the columella, compared to tropical habitat, in driving high levels of diversification in the family. The possible ecomorphological importance of columella structures is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species from Cuba are described in the genus Ocellularia, emphasizing the importance of the Caribbean for the diversification of lichen fungi and the level of unrecognized species richness in Ocellularia. Three of the new species belong in the O. bahiana group: O. coronata Lücking & Pérez-Ortega, differing from O. bahiana by the ridged to folded thallus, vertically ridged apothecia, and complex columella largely covering the disc; O. fuscospora Lücking & Pérez-Ortega, differing from O. urceolaris in the immersed to erumpent, columellate apothecia; and O. radiata Lücking, differing from O. bahiana in the complex, radiating columella filling the disc. In contrast, Ocellularia nigririmis Lücking & Pérez-Ortega is a species of the O. papillata morphodeme with immersed apothecia with a small, black-rimmed pore filled by a greyish black columella, and small ascospores. We also clarify the taxonomy and nomenclature of columellate taxa in the O. bahiana group and provide a key to all thelotremoid Graphidaceae with small, brown, (sub-)muriform ascospores. The new combination Ocellularia lunensis (Nagarkar & Hale) Lücking is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Graphis yunnanensis is described here as a new species. It is taxonomically well characterized by entire labia, slit-like disc, lateral thalline margin, completely carbonized proper exciple, inspersed hymenium, 8-spored asci, muriform 25-45 × 8~12μm ascospores, and the presence of norstictic and stictic acids. The separation of the new species from other somewhat similar Graphis species is discussed. In addition, the study includes Graphis tenoriensis and Phlyctis kamatakana reported for the first lime from China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many tropical areas, monospecific tree plantations are replacing natural forest. The ecology of these plantations is quite different from that of natural forests, including the diversity and community structure of vascular and cryptogamic epiphytes. Few studies have looked at the ecology of guilds of epiphytes in plantations versus natural forest. Here, we investigated epiphytic, lirellate species of the family Graphidaceae, the largest family of tropical lichen fungi, which are widely distributed and abundant in tropical regions. We compared species richness and community structure in a monospecific plantation of the introduced tree species Eucalyptus globulus versus native oak forest dominated by Quercus humboldtii. Overall species richness was substantially higher in the natural oak forest (41 vs. 14 species, with eight shared between both stands, for a total of 47), whereas species abundance was significantly higher in the gum plantation. While species richness per tree (alpha diversity) was comparable between both stands, average species turnover between trees within each stand (beta diversity) was significantly higher in the natural oak forest, resulting in substantially higher overall species richness (gamma diversity). We conclude that the monospecific gum plantation exhibits both de-diversification (lower overall species richness) and homogenization (more similar communities between trees) of these epiphytic lichen guilds. This is not an effect of phorophyte diversity since in both stands, only a single tree species each was considered. Among the lichens identified, we detected six new to the Neotropics and 29 new records for Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lichen genus Carbacanthographis is reported as new to Guangxi, characterized by the closed disc, carbonized exciple, labia covered with a distinct white pruinose layer, warty periphysoids, and I- or weakly I+, muriform or trans-septate ascospores. The species C. marcescens is characterized by the conspicuous lirellae, the laterally carbonized exciple, the hyaline ascospores muriform with (12.5-20)×(5-7.5) μm size, and the presence of salazinic acid. The specimens examined come from Mt. Shengtang, Jinxiu, Guangxi. So far, only one species reported in the rare genus from China. The species was firstly found in the natural environment and inland of Guangxi, China. Which is very important to the flora study, protection and using of the species resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new corticolous Diorygma species are described from Brazil. Diorygma incantatum has transversely 29–31-septate, filiform ascospores 105–108×6 µm, and produces an unidentified substance with Rf 44 in solvent C. Diorygma pauciseptatum produces norstictic and connorstictic acids and has transversely 7–9-septate, I+ blue-violet, large ascospores 28–32×7 µm, surrounded by a gelatinous sheath c. 2 µm wide that is often somewhat expanded at one end. Diorygma tocantinense contains protocetraric acid and has muriform, broadly fusiform ascospores with rounded ends, 24–40×10–15 µm, surrounded by an gelatinous sheath up to c. 5 µm wide that is somewhat expanded at central parts of the ascospore. A revised world key is given to all currently known species of Diorygma. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A world key is given to the species of Pyxine with lichexanthone in the upper cortex. Pyxine pustulata Aptroot & Jungbluth is described as a new corticolous species of Pyxine from São Paulo State in Brazil, with lichexanthone in the cortex, upper surface K−, a yellow to ochraceous medulla and clusters of laminal polysidiangia. Brazil is clearly the centre of Pyxine diversity, with 34 out of c. 70 species known worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphidaceae is a large family of over 2000 predominantly tropical, lichenized fungal species encompassing a remarkable range of morphological and chemical diversity. The majority of species belongs in subfamily Graphidoideae, which also exhibits the greatest amount of variation. Various phenotype characters have traditionally been used for classification at the genus and species levels, but their correlations with phylogenetic clades are poorly known. Using a multilocus approach, we reconstructed a phylogeny for 224 taxa, representing all main genera within subfamily Graphidoideae, and employed ancestral character reconstruction and character transformation analyses to understand the evolution of morphological, anatomical and chemical characters within this group. In addition, we examined the changes of habitat and photobiont types over the phylogeny. For this purpose, we focused on 10 characters, including thallus and ascoma features and chemistry. Since previous studies have shown that results may differ depending on the reconstruction method used, both Maximum-parsimony and Maximum-likelihood approaches were employed and multistate coding of characters was used. We reconstructed the ancestral states for 64 well-supported major clades in the family and found support for the ancestor of Graphidoideae being a tropical species with a trentepohlioid photobiont, apothecioid, solitary ascomata lacking both a columella and lateral paraphyses, and having non-amyloid ascospores. The frequency of transformations of morphological and chemical characters over the phylogeny of Graphidaceae was computed, resulting in a high frequency of reversible transformations for some characters, such as secondary chemistry, whereas other characters, such as photobiont, hymenial persistence or ascoma aggregation, exhibited low frequency of transformations. However, we found that even in the character with the highest number of transformations, secondary chemistry, the shifts were highly structured phylogenetically, suggesting that the evolution of the character, rather than the character state itself, can be used to predict phylogenetic relationships with certain accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The new lichen species Graphis obtectostriata is described from Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. It is characterized by lirellae that are almost totally covered by thallus, but are striate underneath, and long, transversely septate ascospores. All species so far known with similar ascomata, the so-called consanguinea-morph, have muriform ascospores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The order Trentepohliales comprises a diverse and widespread group of green algae in temperate and tropical regions. The free-living representatives of this order have been investigated in more detail, whereas less is known about the trentepohlialean photobionts of lichens. Selected lichen species of the family Graphidaceae ( Graphis propinqua, Graphis scripta, Graphis submarginata) from different climatic regions were chosen for the isolation of trentepohlialean photobionts. Three different nutrient media (modified Bold's Basal medium, modified Woods Hole MBL medium, optimal Haematococcus medium) were tested for the cultivation of these algae. The differences of the growth reactions of the isolated photobionts in culture were studied examining morphological characteristics, reproductive strategies and variations in carotenoid accumulation. The phylogenetic positions of the photobionts were investigated using sequences of the 18S rRNA gene, ITS region, and rbcL gene. Three photobiont strains were identified as Printzina lagenifera and one as Trentepohlia sp. according to the phylogenetic data and the morphological observations under culture conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three species of Graphis (Graphidaceae) are described from Mexico from two research stations of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM): Chamela Biological Station in the Cuixmala-Chamela Biosphere Reserve, Jalisco, and Los Tuxtlas Tropical Biological Station in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz. The new species Graphis bungartzii Barcenas-Peña, Lücking, Herrera-Campos & R. Miranda is characterized by erumpent lirellae with a lateral thalline margin, striate labia and laterally carbonized exciple, transversely septate ascospores, and norstictic and connorstictic acids. Graphis chamelensis Barcenas-Peña & Lücking has prominent lirellae with a basal to lateral thalline margin, entire labia and completely carbonized exciple, transversely septate ascospores, and norstictic acid. Finally, Graphis rosae-emiliae Barcenas-Peña & Lücking is characterized by erumpent lirellae with lateral thalline margin, striate labia and completely carbonized exciple, transversely septate ascospores, and no substances detected by TLC. We present updates to the world key to Graphis for 41 newly described or reinstated species since the world key was published in 2009. The following new combination is proposed: Pallidogramme parvicarpum (B. O. Sharma & Khadilkar) Lücking comb. nov., based on Graphis parvicarpa B. O. Sharma & Khadilkar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight species of Herpothallon are recorded from the Andaman Islands, four of which are described as new: Herpothallon coralloides, H. globuliferum, H. lutescens and H. minutum. All these new species have a non-pigmented thallus, prothallus, hypothallus and pseudisidia. Herpothallon coralloides and H. lutescens possess cylindrical pseudisidia whereas H. globuliferum and H. minutum have granular to globose pseudisidia. Herpothallon globuliferum is foliicolous. Herpothallon echinatum, H. granulare, H. granulosum and H. philippinum are reported for the first time from the Andaman Islands. A key to the Indian species is provided. Heiomasia pallescens (Graphidaceae), a byssoid taxon with a disc-shaped isidioid structure, is also described as new to science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhabdodiscus indicus, a new species is described from Arunachal Pradesh, India. It is characterized by the isidiate thallus, white prurinose, reticulate columellate apothecia, hyaline small 4-locular ascospores and presence of cinchonarum unknown substance. In addition, two species viz. Ocellularia neopertusariiformis Hale and Ocellularia subgranulosa (Homchantara & Coppins) Lumbsch & Papong dealt briefly are reported for the first time from India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following new species are decribed from Sri Lanka: Heterodermia rubrotricha which is similar to Heterodermia leucomela but with red, K + purple pigment on the cilia. Malmidea sanguineostigma, which is similar to Malmidea chrysostigma but has red anthraquinone in the thallus medulla, yellow xantholepinone in the excipulum medulla and smaller ascospores. Protoparmelia megalosporoides which is unique in the genus by the lecideine apothecia resembling those of Megalospora. A key to the species of Heterodermia in Sri Lanka is provided, applying a chemically and morphologically strict species concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acanthothecis salazinica and Diorygma archeri are described from Vietnam. The former is characterized by having a leprose thallus, creamish to whitish, entire, epruinose labia, a slit-like disc, a hyaline to brown, entire proper exciple, warty periphysoids, 8-spored asci, and 28–30-loculate, hyaline, I− ascospores, 70–120×7–14 µm in size. The latter has a greenish grey thallus, a poorly developed, hyaline to pale or brownish proper exciple, 1-spored asci, hyaline, muriform ascospores, and produces protocetraric acid. Acanthothecis corcovadensis, Diorygma erythrellum, D. junghuhnii, D. macgregorii, Platygramme platyloma, Pliariona montagnei and Thecaria quassiicola are recorded for the first time from the country. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Spore-derived mycobionts of the crustose lichen Sarcographa tricosa were cultivated on a malt-yeast extract medium supplemented with 10% sucrose. Chemical investigation of the cultivated colonies led to isolation of three eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes, 3-epi-petasol (1), dihydropetasol (2) and sarcographol (3), together with six known eremophilanes and ergosterol peroxide. These structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. This is the first report of eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes from the cultured mycobionts of lichen. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The following new species for the lichen genus Graphis in Korea are reported: C. chlorotica, C. nanodes and C. tenuirima. A brief description of these species, together with their distribution, ecology, and illustrations are provided. A key to all known species of this genus from Korea is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new lichenicolous ascomycete, Arthonia diorygmae, is described from the thallus and ascomata of Diorygma junghuhnii. The new species is characterized by rounded to irregular, applanate to convex ascomata up to 0·3 mm in diameter, a slightly whitish pruinose disc, transversely 1-septate, hyaline to greyish ascospores (13–)14–15(–21)×5–7 µm, and its lichenicolous habitat. It is known from the subtropical region of the Western Ghats in India and appears to be widespread due to the large distribution of the host species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of the study: This study elucidates the phylogenetic position of a unique taxon of Graphidaceae occurring on rock in coastal desert areas, assessing its importance for our understanding of the evolution of the largest family of tropical lichenized fungi. Methods: We used maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches to reconstruct a three-gene phylogeny of Graphidaceae and a Bayesian molecular clock approach to estimate divergence dates for major clades, as well as Bayesian ancestral ecogeography state analysis. Key results: The new genus Redonographa represents a new subfamily, Redonographoideae, sister to subfamily Graphidoideae. Redonographa is exclusively saxicolous and restricted to the American Pacific coast from California to central Chile, including Galapagos. It contains four species: Redonographa chilensis comb. nov., R. saxiseda comb. nov., R. saxorum comb. nov., an R. galapagoensis sp. nov. The genus Gymnographopsis, with a similar ecogeography but differing in excipular carbonization and chemistry, is also included in Redonographoideae, with the species G. chilena from Chile and G. latispora from So Africa. Molecular clock analysis indicates that Redonographoideae diverged from Graphidoideae about 132 million years ago (Ma) in the Early Cretaceous. Conclusions: The divergence date for subfamilies Redonographoideae and Graphidoideae coincides with the early breakup of Gondwana and ancient origin of the Atacama Desert. However, the common ancestor of Redonographoideae plus Graphidoideae was reconstructed to be tropical-epiphytic. Thus, even if Redonographoideae is subtropical-saxicolous, the hypothesis that Graphidoideae evolved from a subtropical-saxicolous ancestor is not supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, seven species of the lichen genus Platygramme are reported from China. Two of these, Platygramme pudica and P. platyloma, are new to China and two species, Platygramme hainanensis and P. lueckingii, both from a tropical rain forest in Hainan Island, are described as new to science. The new species belong to a group within Platygramme, which is characterized by concealed discs, while the type species, P. caesiopruinosa, and some others have widely open discs. Descriptions and the known distribution of each species are given and a working key to the Chinese species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study illustrates the status of thelotremoid Graphidaceae in South Korea. The taxonomy and systematics of thelotremoid licheus in the country have recently advanced greatly. Following the earlier known taxa from the group, four new records of the genus Thelotrema are reported and described briefly. An artificial key for all known species under thelotremoid group of Graphidaceae from South Korea is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular phylogenies often reveal that taxa circumscribed by phenotypical characters are not monophyletic. While reexamination of phenotypical characters often identifies the presence of characters characterizing clades, there is a growing number of studies that fail to identify diagnostic characters, especially in organismal groups lacking complex morphologies. Taxonomists then can either merge the groups or split taxa into smaller entities. Due to the nature of binomial nomenclature, this decision is of special importance at the generic level. Here we propose a new approach to choose among classification alternatives using a combination of morphology-based phylogenetic binning and a multiresponse permutation procedure to test for morphological differences among clades. We illustrate the use of this method in the tribe Thelotremateae focusing on the genus Chapsa, a group of lichenized fungi in which our phylogenetic estimate is in conflict with traditional classification and the morphological and chemical characters do not show a clear phylogenetic pattern. We generated 75 new DNA sequences of mitochondrial SSU rDNA, nuclear LSU rDNA and the protein-coding RPB2. This data set was used to infer phylogenetic estimates using maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches. The genus Chapsa was found to be polyphyletic, forming four well-supported clades, three of which clustering into one unsupported clade, and the other, supported clade forming two supported subclades. While these clades cannot be readily separated morphologically, the combined binning/multiresponse permutation procedure showed that accepting the four clades as different genera each reflects the phenotypical pattern significantly better than accepting two genera (or five genera if splitting the first clade). Another species within the Thelotremateae, Thelotrema petractoides, a unique taxon with carbonized excipulum resembling Schizotrema, was shown to fall outside Thelotrema. Consequently, the new genera Astrochapsa, Crutarndina, Pseudochapsa, and Pseudotopeliopsis are described here and 39 new combinations are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of an ongoing inventory of the lichenized mycota of the Caxiuanã National Forest, at Ferreira Penna Research Station in the Brazilian Amazon, two species of lichenized fungi are described as new and four new combinations are introduced: Ampliotrema megalostoma (Müll. Arg.) M. Cáceres & Lücking comb. nov., Graphis brachylirellata M. Cáceres & Lücking sp. nov., Malmidea leucogranifera M. Cáceres & Lücking sp. nov., Ocellularia conformalis (Kremp.) M. Cáceres & Lücking comb. nov., Redingeria microspora (Zahlbr.) M. Cáceres & Lücking comb. nov., and Sarcographa megistocarpa (Leight.) M. Cáceres & Lücking comb. nov. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a description of Opegrapha herbarum, Opegrapha viridis and Phaeographis subdividens, all newly identified in the Republic of Korea. The characteristic features of O. herbarum include Varia-type asci, Subelevata-type ascospores, a lack of secondary metabolites and a saxicolous habitat. O. viridis possesses Calcarea-type asci, Vulgata-type ascospores and no chemicals in the thallus. P subdividens is recognizable by its curved to sinuous lirellae, divergent labia, a brown and uniformly thick proper exciple which is open at its base, 3-4-septate ascospores, and lack of secondary metabolites. All three taxa are now reported to exist on Bogil Island in the Republic of Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A numerical approach is presented to predict the number of potentially undiscovered species in groups of species that exhibit a 'modular' combination of character states, that is, nearly 'free' combination that is not random but allows for a wide range of cross-combination of character states. The method uses a character correlation index (CCI) based on observed versus expected frequencies of pairwise character state combinations in known species of a group to estimate the degree of potentially positive and negative evolutionary constraints in the co-occurrence of character states. For instance, if a character state combination, such as 'muriform ascospores' and 'presence of norstictic acid', occurs less frequently than expected by chance, it indicates the presence of a negative evolutionary constraint. If no such constraint is detected, but a particular character combination has not yet been observed in a described species, it can be predicted that yet undescribed species will exhibit that combination. The method can therefore be used to detect 'gaps' in the taxonomic record, i.e. character combinations that have not been detected in known species but are likely to occur in undiscovered species. Modular combination of character states appears to be particularly common in Fungi, including lichens, and the method was here used to predict species richness in the lichen genus Graphis, specifically the Graphis scripta group. A total of 42 species is known in this group and, out of a total of 240 possible character state combinations, a further 48 were found likely to represent undiscovered species, suggesting that the real species number in this group is close to 90 or about twice the number now known. This agrees well with previous estimates for undiscovered diversity of tropical lichen species and for the first time gives a taxonomic prediction of how such 'missing' species are expected to look like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of Chapsa in the family Graphidaceae are described from tropical Asia. Chapsa mastersonii Rivas Plata, Lumbsch & Lücking from the Philippines is characterized by large apothecia with thickly white-pruinose discs, large, muriform, non-amyloid ascospores, and the stictic acid chemosyndrome. Chapsa wijeyaratniana Weerakon, Lumbsch & Lücking from Sri Lanka has apothecia similar to the preceding species but forms an ecorticate thallus with maculiform to capitate soralia, has small, submuriform ascospores, and lacks secondary substances. Chapsa wolseleyana Weerakon, Lumbsch & Lücking forms apothecia with red to pinkish or purplish red discs and large, muriform ascospores becoming pale brown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In continuation of our ongoing revisionary studies on the lichen family Graphidaceae from India, a treatment of 25 species of the lichen genera Fissurina and Hemithecium from India is presented. In our earlier work on the lichen genus Fissurina, 16 species were reported from India. In the present study, 17 additional species of Fissurina from India are recognized. Nine species, viz. Fissurina andamanensis, F. disposita, F. immersa, F. indica, F. microcarpa, F. nicobarensis, F. simplex, F. sporolata, and F. submonospora, are described as new to science. Seven species, viz. Fissurina canlaonensis, F. cingalina, F. comparimuralis, F. monospora, F. nitidescens, F. rubiginosa, and F. subnitidula, are recorded for the first time from India. One species, Fissurina sp. 1, is recorded but not formally described as new due to scanty material. Eight species in the lichen genus Hemithecium, including three new species, viz. H. kodayarense, H. longilirellatum, H. verrucosum, and five new combinations, viz. Hemithecium andamanicum, H. flabillatum, H. flavoalbum, H. flexile, and H. norlabiatum, are also recognized in the present work. A revised key for the identification of all 33 species of Fissurina and 26 species of Hemithecium so far known from India is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six new species of Graphidaceae are described from Sri Lanka, four in Graphis sensu Staiger and one each in Fissurina and Thelotrema. Fissurina srilankensis Weerakoon, Wijeyaratne & Lacking is characterized by lirellae with well-developed labia and comparatively large, muriform ascospores. Graphis allugallenensis Weerakoon, Wijeyaratne & Lacking is similar to G. vittata but has a distinctly verrucose thalline margin along the lirellae. Graphis dotalugalensis Weerakoon, Wijeyaratne & Rivas Plata resembles G. proserpens in the exposed lirellae with striate labia and apically carbonized excipulum but differs in the comparatively large ascospores. Graphis knucklensis Weerakoon, Wijeyaratne & Wolseley features lirellae with striate labia, an inspersed hymenium, and norstictic acid as secondary compound. Graphis srilankensis Weerakoon, Wijeyaratne & Lumbsch has entire labia with a completely carbonized excipulum, inspersed hymenium, transversely septate ascospores, and produces norstictic acid. Finally, Thelotrema pseudosimilans Weerakoon, Wijeyaratne & Lumbsch is close to T. similans in the corticate thallus and prominent apothecia with narrow pore, but has consistently larger ascospores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]