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Issue: Vol. 752 No. 3: 23 Apr. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-04-23
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.752.3.1
Page range: 185-196
Abstract views: 0
PDF downloaded: 0

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

Biodiversity and Palaeobiology (Fungi) Gr., MACS Agharkar Research Institute, G. G. Agarkar Road, Pune, 411 004, Maharashtra, India; Faculty of Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411007, Maharashtra, India
Biodiversity and Palaeobiology (Fungi) Gr., MACS Agharkar Research Institute, G. G. Agarkar Road, Pune, 411 004, Maharashtra, India; Faculty of Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, 411007, Maharashtra, India
Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
Lichenized Ascomycota Graphidales Crustose lichen Polyphasic taxonomy Phylogeny Lichens

Abstract

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.

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How to Cite

Ansil, P.A., Rajeshkumar, K.C. & Lücking, R. (2026) Thelotrema maharashtrense (Graphidaceae), a new lichen-forming species from the Western Ghats of India. Phytotaxa 752 (3): 185–196. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.752.3.1