Bull. Natn. Sc i. Mus., Tokyo, Ser. B, 27(2, 3), pp. 47- 55 , September 22, 2001

Notes on the Genera Graphina and Graphis (Graphidaceae) in Thailand
Minoru Nakanishi\ Hiroyuki Kashiwadani 2 and Kwang Hee Moon
1

Faculty of Science, Okayama Science College, 1- 1- 1 Ridai-cho,Okayama city 700- 0005 , Japan.
2
Department of Botany, Nat ional Science Museum, 4-- 1- 1 Amakubo,
Tsukuba, Jbaraki 305- 0005, Japan.
3
Natural Science Institute, Sookmyung Women 's University,
Seoul 140- 742, Korea
E-mai l: nakani4@aqua.ocn.ne.jp; hkashi wa@kahaku .go.jp;
moonkh@kahaku.go.jp

Abstract Ten species of the genera Graphina and Graphis in the lichen family
Graphidaceae are reported from Thailand, of whi ch Graphina vestita M.Nakan .
Kashiw. & K.H.Moon is new to science. Eight species, Graphina dimorphodes(Nyl.) Zahlbr., G. erythrella (Mont. et v.d. Bosch) Zahlbr. , G. glaucorufa (Vai n.)
Zahlbr. , G. inabensis (Vain .) Zahlbr., G. irosina (Va in.) Zah lbr., G. perstriatula(Ny l.) Zahlbr. , G. subserpentina (Ny l. ) Miill .Arg. and Graphis aphanes Mont. et v.d.
Bosch are reported for the first time for Thailand .
Key words:

Graphina, Graphis, Graphina vestita, new spec ies, lichen, Thailand

The genera Graphis and Graphina are crustose lichens in the family Graphidaceae . Although they are widely di stributed in the world, especially from tropicaland subtropical areas, on ly 14 species have been reported from Thailand (Vainio
1907, 1909, 1921; Zahlbruckner 1924; Wang-Yang & Lai 1973).
During their 1ichenological investigation in Thailand in 1998 under the Co llection Building and Natural History Studies in Asia and the Pacific Rim project supported by the National Science Museum , Tokyo, Kashiwadani and Moon collected 19
specimens of the genera. Taxonomic studies of them determined eight species ofGraphina and one species of Graphis which have never been reported from Thailand.

Material and Method
The present study is based on 19 specimens of the genera Graphina and Graph iscollected by Kashiwadani and Moon during their field survey for lichens in Thailand
in 1998. Collections were made in Phuhinlongkla National Park, Prov. Pisanuklok
and Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden , Prov. Chiang Mai . Specimens reported in the present paper are kept in the herbarium of the National Science Museum and partly inthe herbarium of the Ramkhamhaeng University, Bangkok. Chemical substances

48

Minoru Nakanishi et al.

were studied by means of thin-layer chromatography (Culberson & Johnson 1982)
and HPLC. Sections of apothecia and thalli were cut by hand-razor and mounted in
GAW or Iactophenol cotton-blue solutions.

Results
Key to the species of Graphina and Graphis in Thailand
1. Thallus not isidiate .... . ....... . . . . . . .............. . . ..... ......... . 2
2. Ascocarps with non-carbonized exciples . . . ..... . . . . . . . . ...... . .. .. ... 3
3. Ascocarps fissurine, labia absent. . .. . . . ..... .. .. . .. .. . ........... . 4
4. Spores transversely septate; P+orange-yellow containing stictic acid . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graphis aphanes Mont. et v.d. Bosch
4. Spores submuriform; P - containing no chemical substance ... . .. . .. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graphina inabensis (Vain.) Zahlbr.
3. Ascocarps not-fissurine, labia usually prominent . . . . . . . ... ........... 5
5. Disc open , epruinose, labia not-striate; P+norstictic acid present. . .. .. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graphina erythrella (Mont. & v.d. Bosch) Zahlbr.
5. Disc closed; labia more or less striate . .. . . . . ... . ......... . ...... . 6
6. Labia with dark brown pigments on the top; containing norstictic acid... . . . ... .. .. . . . . ........ . . Graphina glaucorufa (Vain.) Zah1br.
6. Labia without brown pigment on the top; containing stictic acid . . ...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graphina irosina (Vain.) Zahlbr.
2. Ascocarps with carbonized exciples .. . ... . .. .. ........... . ....... . .. 7
7. Exciples striate, without thalline margin . ... .. .. .. .. . . ..... ..... .. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graphina perstriatula (Nyl.) Zah1br.
7. Exciple non-striate, totally or partly covered with thalline margin .... . ... 8
8. Ascocarps ftexuous, branched; spores submuriform, less than 50 f.1m long
. . . . .. ...... . . . . ......... Graphina subserpentina (Nyl.) Muii.Arg.
8. Ascocarps unbranched; spores muriform , up to 170 J.lm long .... ... .. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graphina vestita M.Nakan. , Kashiw. & K.H .Moon
I. Thallus isidiate ..... . . . .... . . . . ... . ... Graphina dimorphodes (Nyl.) Zahlbr.
1)Graphina dimorphodes (Nyl.) Zahlbr. , Cat. Lich. Univ. 2: 404. 1924.
Basionym. Graphis dimorphodes Nyl. Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 27: 176, 1869.
Ceylon, E. Almquist s.n. , H-NYL 7811 - holotype in H!.
The specimen from the present area has cylindrical isidia ( 1- 1.2 mm in diameterand 1-1.6mm in length) on the thallus, a non-carbonized thin exciple (5- IOJ.lm
thick) with yellowish pigments on the terminals, colorless muriform spores, 2024X 8- 10 J.lm, and produces norstictic acid. Although the type specimen of G. dimorphodes has immature smaller spores (8- 17 X 5- 8 J.lm ), other diagnostic characters coincide well with the present species.

Notes o n the Genera Graphina and Graphis (Graphidaceae) in Thailand

49

Fig. I. a) Graphina dimo1phodes (Nyl.) Za hlbr. , b) Graphina e!JI/hrella (Mont. & v.d. Bosch)Zahlbr. , c) Graphina g /au corufi:i (Vai n.) Zahlbr. , d) Graphina inabensis (Vain.) Zahlbr. Sca lebar = I mm.

Thi s is the only isidiate spec ies of the genus Graphina in Eastern Asia . It might
be confused with Phaeographina isidiosa (Vain.) Zahlbr., an isidiate species reported
from the Philippines. However, it can be easily distinguished from the latter by thecolorless spores. New to Thailand.
Specimen examined. Thailand. Prov. Pisanuklok. Nakorn Thai District: Trail to
Lan Hinpum , Phuhinlongkla National Park ( l7 °N, I 0 I 0 E) , on bark of Podocarpus ,alt. 1250- 1350 m , 23 February 1998, K. H. Moon (no. 4068) & H. Kashiwadani.

2) Graphina erythrella (Mont. & v.d. Bosch ) Zahlbr. Cat. Lich. Univ. 2: 405. 1924.
Basionym . Ustalia ery thrella Mont. & v.d .Bosch in Jungh. , Plant. Junghuhn .,fasc . 47 : 478, 1855. Type collection. Java, Teysm s. n.-holotype in L!
The specimen from the present area has the following diagnostic characters:
thallus greenish-gray to off-white, thick, continuous; ascocarps raised, more or lessundulate, simple or rarely branched, covered by a prominent tha lline margin nearly tothe top of the exciples, 1- 3 mm long, 0.3- 0.4 mm wide; exciple non-carboni zed, paleorange- yellow at the base, labia convergent; hymenium 90- 110 ,um high. Spores not

50

Minoruaka ni shi et al.

Fig. 2. a) Craphina irosina (Vain.) Zahlbr. , b) Craphina perstriatula (N y l. ) Zahlbr.. c) Craphina
subserpentina (Nyl.) Mi.ill. Arg. , d) Craphis aphanes Mont. Scale bar = I 111111 .

seen. Norstictic acid present.
Although the examined specimen has no spores in the asci, the general characteristic features coincides well with the type of G. erythrella. This species very muchresembles G. dimorphodes , from which it can be easily distinguished by the absenceof isidia. New to Thailand.
Specimen examined. Thai land. Prov. Pisanuklok. Nakorn Thai District: Trail to
Lan Hinpum , Phuhinlongkla, Phuhinlongkla National Park ( l7 °N, I 0 I 0 E) , on bark,alt. 1250- 1350m , 23 February 1998 , K. H. Moon (no. 2190) & H. Kashiwadani.
3) Graphina glaucorufa (Vain.) Zahlbr. Cat. Lich. Univ. 2: 407. 1924.
Basionym. Graph is glaucoruf'a Vain . Annal. Soc. Zoo I.-Bot. Fennic., I : 51 ,1921. Type collection. Siam (Thailand), Mt Doi Sutep, 1675 m , 1904, C.C. Hosseus
s.n. TUR-V 27213 -holotype!
Since Vainio ( 1921) described this species under the name of Graph is glaucorufa, on the basis of a collecti on made from Mt Doi Sutep near Chiang Mai, it has
never been reported. In the present survey, this species was found at one locality inNote s on th e Genera Graphina and Graphis (Graphidaceae) in Thailand

Fig. 3.

51

Ho lotype of Graphina vest ita M . Nakan. , Ka shiw. & K. H. Moon. Scale bar = !mm.

the Phuhinlongkla National Park. Although the collection from the present area isvery small (ea I X I cm), it has the following characteristic features : thallus off-white;
ascocarps concolorous with thallus, prominent, covered with thallus ; disc pruinosewith white pruina; labia pale yellowish-orange at the tips ; exciple non-carbonized;
spores muriform , 30- 35 X8- IO(mature spores not seen). No chemical substan ce
was detected by TLC.
Specimen examined. Thailand: Prov. Pisanuklok. Nakorn Thai District: AroundPhuhinlongkla visitor center (old Community Party Political Mini stry School),Phuhinlongkla National Park ( l7 °N, I 0 I 0 E) , on bark of Podocurpus sp. , alt. 1250 m,
24 February 1998, K. H. Moon (2286d) & H. Kashiwadani.

.um4) Graphina inabensis (Vain.) Zahlbr. Cat. Lich. Univ. 2: 409. 1923.
Basionym. Graphis inabensis Vain. Type collection: Japan , Honsh u, Prov. lnaba,
A. Yasuda 4 7(TUR- V 27359! - holotype ; isotype in TNS). Chemistry : no lichen substance detected by TLC.
Graphina inabensis might be confused with G. glaucorufa, since they both havenon-carbonized exciples and ascospores less than 30
in length. However, ascocarps of G. inabensis are always closed and have no striations on the labia. ln contrast, those of G. glaucort([a are distinctly open and have pruinose di scs. In addition ,the labia are more or less sulcate near the tops in G. glaucorufa.
G. inabensis has been reported only from Japan (Nakanishi 1966). This is thefirst record for this species outside Japan. One collection from Formosa collected by
Kurokawa is also identified with this species. The distribution is now extended south

.um

52

Minoru Nakanishi et al.

to Thailand.
Specimens examined. Thailand. Prov. Pisanuklok. Nakorn Thai District: Ca. 4
km E of Phuhinlongkla visitor center (old Community Party Political Ministry
School.), Phuhinlongkla National Park, on bark (17°N, 101 °E), alt. 1250- 1350 m, 24
February, 1998, K. H. Moon (2233a) & H. Kashiwadani . Thailand. Prov. Pisanuklok.
Nakorn Thai District: Trail to Lan Hinpum, Phuhinlongkla, Phuhinlongkla National
Park (17 °N, 10l 0 E), on bark, alt. 1250- 1350m, 23 February 1998, K. H. Moon
(2418) & H. Kashiwadani.
Formosa. Pref. Taitung: Chinsueiin Pass, on bark, alt. 1200 m, S. Kurokawa
2963 (TNS).

5) Graphina irosina (Vain.) Zahlbr. Cat. Lich. Univ. 2: 412 . 1924.
Basionym. Graphis irosina Vain. Annal. Acad. Scient. Fennic., ser.A, 15 : 213 ,1921. Type collection. Philippines, Sorsogon, !rosin, A. D.E. E1mer 15100 (TUR-V
27220-ho1otype). Chemistry: stictic acid.
The present species is quite similar to G. albidolivens (Vain.) Zahlbr. (Type collection. Philippines, Luzon, A. D. E. El mer 15029, TUR-V 27306-lectotype designated here). G. irosina, however, can be separated from the latter by spore size; thespores of G. irosina are 27- 36 X l2- 16,um, whereas those of G. albidolivens are
70-140X 16- 38 ,urn).
Specimen examined. Thailand. Prov. Pisanuklok. Nakorn Thai District: Trail to
Lan Hinpum, Phuhinlongkla, Phuhinlongkla National Park ( l7 °N, 10 I 0 E), on bark,alt. 1250- 1350m, February 23, 1998, K. H. Moon (2193) & H. Kashiwadani.
6) Graphina perstriatula (Nyl.) Zahlbr. Cat. Lich. Univ. 2: 418. 1924.
Basionym: Graphis perstriatula Nyl. , Bull. Soc. Linn . Normand., ser. 2, 7: 170.
1873 .
Type collection. India. Andaman Island, S. Kurz 1867, H-Nyl 7779-holotype in
H! Chemistry: norstictic acid (major), connorstictic acid (minor) and stictic
acid( minor).
Since Nylander ( 1873) described this species as Graph is perstiratula Nyl. fromthe Andaman Islands, it has never been reported. The specimen from the present area
was collected on bark of Podocarpus at alt. ea. 1250 m. Specimens from the present
area have the following diagnostic features which coincide well with the type specimen of G. perstriatula: thallus whitish-gray; ascocarps simple to flexuous, I 0- 15 mm
long; labia prominent, striations very clear, covered by thallus only at the base; exciple black above, yellowish-brown laterally and basely; ascospores colorless, muriform, 25- 36 X 12- 18 ,urn ; containing norstictic acid as major chemical substance.
The present species is very similar to G. semirigida Mi.ili.Arg. (Type collection:
India, Manipur, G. Watt 83-holotype in BM!), an endemic species of India, fromwhich it can be distinguished by the smaller spores (25- 36Xl2- 18,um) instead of

Notes on the Genera Graphina and Graphis (Graphidaceae) in Thailand

53

larger spores (72- 88X20-26 ,urn). In external appearance it resembles Graphis theae
Zahlbr., from which it can be easily distinguished by the muriform spores.
Specimen examined. Thailand. Prov. Pisanuklok. Nakorn Thai District: AroundPhuhinlongkla visitor center (old Community Party Political Ministry School),Phuhinlongkla National Park (l7°N, l01 °E), on bark of Podocarpus sp., alt. 1250m,
24 February 1998, K. H. Moon (2286b) & H. Kashiwadani.
7) Graphina subserpentina (Nyl.) Miill. Arg. Bull. Soc. Bot. Belgique, 32: 152.
1893
Basionym. Graphis subserpentina Nyl. Acta Soc. Sci. Fenn., 7: 465 . 1863 . Typecollection: Ceylon, H. Hooker, NH 8012-holotype in H!). Chemistry: norstictic acid.
Graphina insulana Miili.Arg. , In Engler, Bot. Jahrb. 4: 56. 1883. Type collection : Fiji, Vitileva 30-holotype in G, syn. nov. Chemistry: norstictic acid.
Muller Argoviensis (1883) described G. insulana from Fiji. The type specimen
in G has well branched ascocarps which are more or less immersed in the thallus,
labia entire and convergent, exciple carbonized laterally, open at the base, spores one
per ascus, muriform, 52- 83 X 18- 20 ,urn, and produces norstictic acid. These characters coincide well with the type of Graphis subserpentina and Graphina insulana was
reduced to a synonym of Graphis subserpentina.
G. subserpentina is widely distributed in south-east Asia and the Pacific Islands,
having been reported from India, Sri Lanka, Java, Philippines, New Caledonia andFiji (Awasthi 1991, Nylander 1863, Redinger 1933, Vainio 1921). The distribution
now includes Thailand, where it grows on bark of Thea at alt. ea. 700 m.
Specimen examined. Thailand. Prov. Chiang Mai. Mae Rim District: Queen
Sirikit Botanic Garden, on bark of Thea sp., alt. ea. 700 m, 3 March 1998, K. H.
Moon (2315) & H. Kashiwadani .
8) Graphina vestita M.Nakan. , Kashiw. & K.H.Moon, sp. nov.
Similis Graphina amicta sed differt ascocarpiis tenuibus, spons umCis, majoribus, et acidiis norsticticis continentis.
Thallus corticolous, continuous, smooth, whitish-gray, subnitid. Apothecia
prominent, simple, unbranched, concolorous with the thallus, up to 2 mm long, up to
0.5 mm wide; Labia covered by a thalline margin, convergent; exciple dimidiate, carbonized laterally; hymenium 240 ,urn high , non-carbonized, surface with no pruina.
Spores colorless, asci-! spored, spores ell ipso id, muriform, colorless, 105- 170 X 3045 ,urn.
Holotype. Thailand, Prov. Chiang Mai, Mae Rim District: Queen Sirikit Botanic
Garden, on bark of Castanopsis sp. , alt. ea. 860 m, 3 March 1998, K. H. Moon (2295)
and H. Kashiwadani- holotype in TNS; isotype in Ramkhamhaeng University,
Bangkok, Thailand (RAMK). Chemistry : norstictic acid (major), constictic acid(minor) and stictic acid (minor).

54

Minoru Nakanishi et al.

G. vestita resembles G. amicta (Nyl.) Zahlbr. , a species reported from the Bonin
Islands, Japan. However, it can be clearly distinguished by the larger spores (up to
170 J..lm in length). It might be confused with G. illinata (Eschw.) Wirth, a species reported from Dominica and Brazil (Wirth & Hale 1978), since they both have similar
ascocarps covered by the thallus, and larger muriform spores. However, it can be distinguished from the latter by the dimidiate exciple and by the constant production of
norstictic acid. In the latter species, the exciples are carbonized laterally and basally.
In addition, G. illinata produces no chemical substance (Wirth & Hale 1978). G.
ves tita also resembles G.frumentaria (Fee) Miill.Arg., a species described from Peru,
which differs in having convergent labia and smaller spores (less than 60 J..lm in
length), and in lacking chemical substances.

9) Graphis aphanes Mont. et v.d. Bosch, Jungh. , Plant. Junghuhn. , fasc . 4, 474,
1855.
Graphis glaucocinerea Vain. Hedwigia, 46 : 178, 1907 (Type collection: Siam, J.
Schmidt no. VIII-holotype in TUR! , isotype in FH!), syn . nov.
In Thailand, this species has been known under the name of G. glaucocinerea
Vain. The type specimen of G. glaucocinerea has buff thalli and light-colored lirellae
with subsulcate margins to a colorless exciple. The asci have 8-spored with colorlessspores with 17- 20 locules (72- 80X7- 9 J..lm in size) and contain stictic acid as achemical substance. These characters are coincide well with the type of Graphis
aphanes morphologically and anatomically. Therefore, G. g laucocinerea can be reduced to a synonym of G. aphanes.
The present species might be confused with G. oshioi M.Nakan., an endemic
species of Japan (Nakanishi , 1966), since they have similar apothecia and the thallus
show orange-red reaction with P. However, it is clearly di stinguished from the latterby the larger spores (72- 80 X7- 9 J..lm) and in produces stictic acid. G. oshioi has
smaller spores (20-30 X 7- 9 J..lm) and produces norstictic acid.
G. aphanes has been reported from Asia and the distribution includes Java (typelocality), India (Awasthi 1991) and Japan (Yaeyama Islands and Bonin Islands;
Nakanishi 1981; Kashiwadani & Nakanishi 1978). This is the second report for thisspecies in the present area where it grows on bark at alt. between 1250 and 1350 m.
Specimen examined. Thailand. Prov. Pisanuklok. Nakorn Thai District: Ca. 4
km E of Phuhinlongkla visitor center (old Community Party Political Ministry
School.), Phuhinlongkla National Park, on bark (l7°N, l0l 0 E), alt. 1250- 1350m, 24
February 1998, K. H. Moon (2233b) & H. Kashiwadani .
Acknowledgements
We wish to express our sincere thanks to Or K. Boonpragob, Ramkhamhaeng
University, Bangkok, for arranging the field trips in Thailand, to Dr. S. Kurokawa,

Notes on the Genera Graphina and Graphis (Graphidaceae) in Thailand

55

Botanic Gardens of Toyama, Toyama for critically reading the manuscript and valuable suggestions, and to Prof. M. R. D. Seaward, University of Bradford, Bradford for
linguistic corrections and useful comments on a draft of this paper.

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