The Lichenologist

Table of Contents - May 2012 - Volume 44, Issue 03  

Research Article

Three new species of Chapsa (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales: Graphidaceae) from tropical Asia

Gothamie WEERAKOONa1, Eimy RIVAS PLATAa2a3, H. Thorsten LUMBSCHa2 and Robert LÜCKINGa2

a1 Department of Botany, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.

a2 Department of Botany, The Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605-2496, USA. Email: erivasplata@fieldmuseum.org

a3 Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0338, USA.

Abstract

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.

(Accepted November 03 2011)

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