Thelotrema maharashtrense (Graphidaceae), a new lichen-forming species from the Western Ghats of India

Author:
Ansil P.A., Rajeshkumar K.C. & Lücking R.
Year:
2026
Journal:
Phytotaxa
Pages:
752(3): 185–196
Url:
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.752.3.1
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This study describes a new lichenized species, Thelotrema maharashtrense, from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India, integrating morphological, chemical, and phylogenetic methods. Thelotrema maharashtrense is characterised by a loosely corticate thallus, prominent apothecia with an only rarely apically free, basally I+ amyloid exciple, 1-spored asci producing large, muriform ascospores, and lack of lichen substances. Analyses based on a concatenated mtSSU, LSU and rpb2 data set placed T. maharashtrense in a well-supported monophyletic clade allied to T. adjectum. This is the first molecular phylogenetic study of Thelotrema from India. Key words: Lichenized Ascomycota, Graphidales, Crustose lichen, Polyphasic taxonomy, Phylogeny.
Id:
39419
Submitter:
zpalice
Post_time:
Thursday, 23 April 2026 18:07