Assembling a Taxonomic Monograph of Tribe Wirthiotremateae (Lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales: Graphidaceae)

Abstract Phylogenetic studies of the lichenized fungal family Graphidaceae necessitate various nomenclatural changes. Tribe Wirthiotremateae is more narrowly circumscribed on the basis of new molecular data and phenotypical differences towards allied clades. The new genus Austrotrema is described to accommodate the three species of the Thelotrema bicinctulum group, Asteristion is resurrected for the seven species of the Chapsa platycarpa group, and Nadvornikia is expanded to include two non-mazaediate species in addition to its two mazaediate species. Asteristion australianum is newly described for Australian material previously identified as T. albo-olivaceum. Eleven new combinations are made: Asteristion alboannuliforme (Bas.: Thelotrema alboannuliforme), As. albo-olivaceum (Bas.: T. albo-olivaceum), As. cupulare (Bas.: T. cupulare), As. leucophthalmum (Bas.: T. leucophthalmum), As. platycarpoides (Bas.: T. platycarpoides), As. platycarpum (Bas.: T. platycarpum), Austrotrema bicinctulum (Bas.: T. bicinctulum), Au. myriocarpum (Bas.: T. myriocarpum), Au. terebrans (Bas.: T. terebrans), Nadvornikia expallescens (Bas.: Leucodecton expallescens), and N. peninsulae (Bas.: Myriotrema peninsulae). Descriptions and discussions of Wirthiotremateae species are provided, along with keys to the species of the tribe. Phylogenetic analyses were based on six markers: the mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU) and nuclear large subunit (nuLSU) rDNA, RNA polymerase II largest (RPB1) and second largest (RPB2) subunit, elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1-α), and internal transcribed spacer (ITS).