This is one of the two less common species of the Graphis scripta s. lat. group characterised in particular by the broad white surround to the lirellae and the partly open disks (see Neuwirth & Aptroot 2011, Kraichak et al. 2015).
Thallus white, grey to pale brown, mostly uneven, deeply cracked, areolate, rarely smooth. Ascomata elongate, curved, wavy or branched, rarely stellate, to 8 mm in length and 0.1–0.3 mm broad; ends of lirellae acute, but never bifurcated; discs concealed or visible, pruinose to non-pruinose, surrounded by a conspicuous thick white thallus margin (ca 0.2 mm broad) filled with calcium oxalate crystals; true exciple black, 15–45 μm thick. Ascospores but often becoming pale brown, 6–8 per ascus, 5- to 11-septate, 15–45×5–9 μm, the lumina mostly lentiform, rarely elliptic or angular in section. Thallus K–.
This is one of the two less common species of the Graphis scripta s. lat. group, characterised in particular by the broad white surround to the lirellae and the partly open disks.
Not yet clear, but possibly in older, more long established habitats than Graphis scripta s. str. and less of a pioneer species than this species.
No yet known, probably widepread.
Aptroot, A., Weerakoon, G., Cannon, P., Coppins, B., Sanderson, N. & Simkin, J. (2023). Ostropales: Graphidaceae, including the genera Allographa, Clandestinotrema, Crutarndina, Diploschistes, Fissurina, Graphis, Leucodecton, Phaeographis, Schizotrema, Thelotrema and Topeliopsis. Revisions of British and Irish Lichens 36: 1-23.
Kraichak, E., Lücking, R., Aptroot, A., Dornes, P., John, V., Lendemer, J.C., Nelsen, M.P., Neuwirth, G., Nutakki, A., Parnmen, S., Sohrabi, M., Tønsberg, T. & Lumbsch, H.T. (2015). Hidden diversity in the morphologically variable script lichen (Graphis scripta) complex (Ascomycota, Ostropales, Graphidaceae). Organisms, Diversity and Evolution 15: 447-458.
Neuwirth, G. & Aptroot, A. (2011). Recognition of four morphologically distinct species in the Graphis scripta complex in Europe. Herzogia 24: 207–230.
Text by Neil A Sanderson based on Aptroot et al (2023)