Cryptothecia superphyllinica Jagadeesh & G.P. Sinha, 2016

Jagadeesh Ram, T. A. M. & Sinha, G. P., 2016, A world key to Cryptothecia and Myriostigma (Arthoniaceae), with new species and new records from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, Phytotaxa 266 (2), pp. 103-114 : 107-108

Cryptothecia superphyllinica Jagadeesh & G.P. Sinha , sp. nov. ( Figs 1D & 2E )

MycoBank No.: MB 817298

Cryptothecia with homoiomerous thallus; whitish, raised, rounded to linear, 0.5–1.5 mm diam. ascigerous areas; 8-spored asci; broadly ovoid to ellipsoid, 9–15 × 3–6 septate, (45–)58–76(–80) × (22–)24–33(–38) μm ascospores and 2’- O -methylsuperphyllinic acid.

Type: — INDIA. Andaman Islands, South Andaman, Baratang Island, Nayadera mangrove forest, 12°05’44.6” N, 92°44’46.2”E, alt. 10 m, on Rhizophora , 14.7.2012, T. A. M. Jagadeesh Ram 2257 (Holotype CAL).

Thallus crustose, corticolous, endo- to epi-peridermal, firmly attached, irregular, up to 6.5 cm across, whitish grey, effuse, smooth, ± uneven, lacking isidia and soredia, 30–85 μm thick, homoiomerous, ecorticate, lacking calcium oxalate crystals; prothallus ± distinct, byssoid, thin, comprising mainly of interwoven and radiating hyphae, whitish, up to 2 mm wide, forming a dark brown line while bordering different species; photobiont trentepohlioid, cells rounded to oblong, 6–10 × 5–7 μm. Ascomata (ascigerous areas) delimited, whitish, distinctly raised, rounded to linear, 0.5–1.5 mm diam. and 0.5 mm high, densely pruinose, not covered by photobiont layer. Paraphysoids tightly enclosing the asci, I + pale blue, KI+ blue. Asci frequent, aggregated in whitish ascigerous areas, externally not visible, globose to subglobose, 8-spored, c. 108–133 × 72–103 μm. Ascospores hyaline, broadly ovoid to ellipsoid, usually straight, muriform, 9–15 × 3–6 septate, with ± equal cells, (45–)58–76(–80) × (22–)24–33(–38) μm (n=27). Chemistry: Thallus and ascigerous areas K –, C –, KC–, P –; UV + white; I + blue and KI+ blue in patches (in section); 2’- O - methylsuperphyllinic acid (major).

Notes: — Cryptothecia superphyllinica is distinct from all the other species by the presence of 2’- O - methylsuperphyllinic acid. Externally it resembles C. albomaculata which has a similarly thin thallus and raised ascigerous areas, but differs in having rather small ascospores (33–43 × 16–23 μm) and a UV – thallus containing an unknown substance. The substance, 2’- O -methylsuperphyllinic acid is so far known from Stirtonia alboverruca Makhija & Patw. (1987: 48) which is also known from the Andaman Islands ( Makhija & Patwardhan 1994, 1998, Aptroot 2009).

Distribution and habitat: — Cryptothecia superphyllinica is known from the type locality where it grows on a mangrove tree, Rhizophora .

Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to its secondary metabolite 2’- O -methylsuperphyllinic acid.

Figures

FIGURE 1. A. Cryptothecia albomaculans (holotype), part of thallus with white maculiform ascigerous areas. B. C. elata (holotype), part of thallus with white raised ascigerous areas. C. C. elongata (holotype), part of thallus with slightly raised ascigerous areas. D. C. superphyllinica (holotype), part of thallus with white raised ascigerous areas. E. Myriostigma nicobaricum (holotype), part of thallus with white raised ascigerous areas. F. M. nicobaricum (paratype). Scales:A–F=1 mm.

FIGURE 2. A. Cryptothecia albomaculans (holotype), ascospores. B. C. elata (holotype), ascospores. C–D. C. elongata (holotype). C. Ascus. D. Ascospores. E. C. superphyllinica (holotype), ascospores. F. Myriostigma nicobaricum (holotype), ascospores. Scales=20 μm.