Graphis paraschiffneri
Graphis paraschiffneri is a little-known species of corticolous script lichen in the family Graphidaceae. It is only known to occur in Nicaragua. Closely related to Graphis schiffneri, the lichen is distinguished from this lookalike by its longer with more septa and extended .
Taxonomy
Graphis paraschiffneri was formally described as a new species in 2015 by the lichenologists Robert Lücking and Othmar Breuss. First identified in Nicaragua, near the Pacific coast at Playa El Coco, about south of San Juan del Sur, the type specimen was collected by the second author on 19 July 2001. The species epithet alludes to its similarity with Graphis schiffneri.Description
The thallus of Graphis paraschiffneri is epiperidermal, with a thickness of 100–150 micrometres. It has a greyish-white, smooth, and slightly appearance, thinly coated with a containing an irregular and calcium oxalate crystals. It lacks a prothallus. The, which are the fruiting structures, are to, typically measuring 1.5–3.0 mm in length and about 0.25 mm in width. They are either or sparsely branched and has a lateral. The labia are to slightly furrowed at the tips, with free and black, non- tips; the remains concealed. The is completely, measuring 230–280 μm in width and 170–200 μm in height. The is approximately 20 μm tall and colourless, while the clear hymenium is 90–120 μm tall. The paraphyses are unbranched and hyaline, and the is and grey-brown. The, numbering eight per ascus, are colourless, and stain violet-blue with iodine. Spores are elongated, measuring 30–42 by 7.5–8.5 μm, and have 10 to 14.Graphis paraschiffneri contains norstictic acid, as detected by thin-layer chromatography. Spot tests on the thallus yield reactions of C−, P−, and K+.