ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Remarkable diversification of the lichenized genus Fissurina (Graphidales) in Hawaiʻi
1
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University,
Bangkok, Thailand
2
Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum, Freie Universität Berlin,
Königin-Luise-Straße 6–8, 14195 Berlin, Germany
3
Research Associate, Integrative Science and Collections, The Field
Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605, USA
4
Licenciatura en Biología, Universidad Distrital Francisco José de
Caldas, Cra. 4 No. 26B-54, Torre de Laboratorios, Herbario, Bogotá,
Colombia
5
National Tropical Botanical Garden, 3530 Papalina Road, Kalaheo,
Hawaii 96741, USA
6
Department of Botany, University of Hawaiʻi, 3190 Maile Way, St.
John Hall Room #409, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA
7
Collections, Conservation and Research Division, The Field Museum,
1400 South DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605, USA
Submission date: 2026-04-29
Acceptance date: 2026-06-29
Online publication date: 2026-07-31
Publication date: 2026-07-31
Plant and Fungal Systematics 2026; 71(1): 122-163
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
We present a molecular phylogenetic and taxonomic revision of the genus Fissurina
(Graphidales) in Hawaiʻi. Compared to eight previously reported species, we distinguish
a total of 26 species. Only four of the previously reported species are tentatively
confirmed, namely F. columbina, F. globulifica, F. stromatoides, and F. zahlbruckneriana.
An additional four species are new records for the archipelago, including F. consentanea,
F. crassilabra, F. deficiens, and F. hyalinella. The following 18 species are described as
new to science: F. alani sp. nov., differing from F. chrysocarpoides in the larger ascospores;
F. biliana sp. nov., differing from F. hyalinella in the longer ascospores; F. brevicarpa
sp. nov., differing from F. hyalinella in the short, broad, somewhat gall-forming lirellae;
F. fissa sp. nov., differing from F. tachygrapha in the thicker thallus, the weak apical carbonization
of the labia, and the relatively narrower ascospores; F. fuscella sp. nov., differing
from F. tectigera in the apically carbonized labia and the shorter ascospores becoming
brown when mature; F. fuscispora sp. nov., differing from F. dumastii and similar species
in the ascospores becoming brown, and from F. fujisanensis in the non-carbonized labia;
F. graphidoides sp. nov., differing from F. gomphospora in the dark labia contrasting with
the lighter thallus, and from F. decipiens in the more distinct, dark grey labia lacking
a black line along the slit; F. implicatoides sp. nov., differing from F. capsulata in the
thin, largely endoperidermal thallus and in the shorter, broader ascospores; F. kokeensis
sp. nov., differing from F. hyalinella in the presence of distinct (albeit thin) labia and
in the weakly amyloid ascospores; F. mauiensis sp. nov., differing from F. fissa in the
slightly smaller ascospores; F. montiformis sp. nov., differing from F. alligatorensis in the
minutely gall-forming lirellae with concealed disc and the somewhat narrower ascospores;
F. nigriannulata sp. nov., differing from F. hyalinella in the irregular black rim bordering
the gaping disc of the lirellae; F. papillosa sp. nov., differing from F. insidiosa in the even
thallus with numerous, tiny papillae; F. sandwicensis sp. nov., differing from F. fissa in the
larger, muriform ascospores; F. serpentina sp. nov., differing from F. insidiosa in the very
long, radiating lirellae; F. subcoarctata sp. nov., differing from F. coarctata in the more
robust, less crowded lirellae; F. subcrassilabra sp. nov., differing from F. crassilabra in
the less emergent lirellae with concealed disc and in the only weakly amyloid ascospore;
and F. subtimidula sp. nov., differing from F. fissa in the much larger ascospores and from
F. sandwicensis in the 3-septate ascospores. Based on our study, the number of species
of Fissurina now known from Hawaiʻi has more than tripled and potential endemism has
increased from zero to 78%. A key to all species now reported for Hawaiʻi is presented. This
study is dedicated to our esteemed colleague and friend, André Aptroot, on the occasion of
his 65th birthday, for his numerous contributions to the taxonomy of tropical crustose lichens.
FUNDING
Data were obtained and field work was done for this study as
part of several projects funded by the National Science Foundation:
Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Ostropalean Fungi, with Emphasis
on the Lichen-forming Thelotremataceae (DEB 0516116
to The Field Museum; PI H.T. Lumbsch; Co-PI R. Lücking),
ATM – Assembling a taxonomic monograph: The lichen family
Graphidaceae (DEB-1025861 to The Field Museum; PI H.T.
Lumbsch, CoPI R. Lücking), and Collaborative Research:
Evolution, Diversification, and Conservation of a Megadiverse
Flagship Lichen Genus (DEB-1354884; PI H.T. Lumbsch,
CoPI R. Lücking).
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