# Sarcographina

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Genus of lichen-forming fungi

Sarcographina Scientific classification Kingdom: Fungi Division: Ascomycota Class: Lecanoromycetes Order: Graphidales Family: Graphidaceae Genus: Sarcographina Müll.Arg. (1887) Type species Sarcographina cyclospora Müll.Arg. (1887) Species S. contortuplicata S. cyclospora S. farinulenta S. heterospora S. maculata S. sandwicensis

***Sarcographina*** is a [genus](/source/Genus) of [script lichens](/source/Script_lichen) in the family [Graphidaceae](/source/Graphidaceae).[1] It comprises six species.[2] Established in 1887 by the Swiss lichenologist [Johannes Müller Argoviensis](/source/Johannes_M%C3%BCller_Argoviensis), these [bark-dwelling lichens](/source/Corticolous_lichen) are distinguished by their star-burst colonies of short, curved fruiting structures with jet-black borders and [ascospores](/source/Ascospore) that [stain](/source/Staining) violet when treated with [iodine](/source/Iodine). Found in humid [tropical](/source/Tropical) and warm [temperate](/source/Temperate) forests worldwide, they serve as [indicators](/source/Bioindicator) of [undisturbed](/source/Disturbance_(ecology)) woodland habitats due to their sensitivity to [canopy](/source/Canopy_(botany)) opening and drought.

## Taxonomy

The genus was [circumscribed](/source/Circumscription_(taxonomy)) by the Swiss lichenologist [Johannes Müller Argoviensis](/source/Johannes_M%C3%BCller_Argoviensis) in 1887, with *[Sarcographina cyclospora](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarcographina_cyclospora&action=edit&redlink=1)* assigned as the [type species](/source/Type_species). In his original description, Müller characterised *Sarcographina* by its crustaceous [thallus](/source/Thallus) and chrome-coloured [photobiont](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#photobiont), with [lirellae](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#lirellae) densely aggregated in spot-like [stromata](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#stromata) that are immersed in the thallus surface. He distinguished the genus from *[Sarcographa](/source/Sarcographa)* by noting that the lirellae are arranged in dense clusters rather than radiating patterns, and described the [perithecium](/source/Perithecium) as having its own distinct boundary that is brownish-black and internally indistinct. Müller noted the linear [asci](/source/Ascus) contain simple [paraphyses](/source/Paraphyses) and both dark and pale [ascospores](/source/Ascospore). The genus name reflects its close relationship to *Sarcographa*, with the suffix "-ina" indicating a diminutive or related form.[3]

## Description

*Sarcographina* forms a smooth, chalk-white to pale grey crust ([thallus](/source/Thallus)) that grows flush with the bark and lacks a true [cortex](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#cortex). Its fruit bodies are arranged in neat, star-burst colonies of short, curved [lirellae](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#lirellae) whose walls are jet-black and wholly [carbonised](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#carbonised). A colourless to pale brown [excipulum](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#excipulum) lines each slit, overhung by a yellow-brown [epithecium](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#epithecium) often dusted with a fine [pruina](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#pruina). The [hymenium](/source/Hymenium) is densely [inspersed](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#inspersed) with oil droplets, and the thin-walled *Graphis*-type [asci](/source/Ascus) contain eight hyaline [ascospores](/source/Ascospore) that are relatively small (roughly 15–35 × 5–10 [μm](/source/%CE%9Cm)), transversely 3–9-septate, and [stain](/source/Staining) deep violet in iodine (I+). Many species synthesise the [ultraviolet](/source/Ultraviolet)-fluorescent pigment [lichexanthone](/source/Lichexanthone), together with traces of [norstictic acid](/source/Norstictic_acid) or [stictic acid](/source/Stictic_acid), giving the [discs](/source/Glossary_of_lichen_terms#discs) a dull [ochre](/source/Ochre) tint in reflected light and a bright yellow glow under long-wave ultraviolet.[4]

The combination of [rosette](/source/Rosette_(botany))-forming lirellae, a strongly inspersed hymenium and I+ (violet), small-segmented spores separates *Sarcographina* from its sister genus *[Sarcographa](/source/Sarcographa)*, whose hymenium is clear and whose larger spores remain iodine-negative. Other script lichens with carbonised margins—such as *[Glyphis](/source/Glyphis_(lichen))*, *[Hemithecium](/source/Hemithecium)* and *[Redingeria](/source/Redingeria)*—lack the star-burst architecture, the persistent inspersion or the lichexanthone fluorescence that diagnose *Sarcographina*.[4]

## Ecology

The genus has a [pantropical](/source/Pantropical) to warm-[temperate](/source/Temperate) distribution, with records from lowland [Amazonian rainforest](/source/Amazonian_rainforest), West-Central African evergreen stands, Indo-Malayan [dipterocarp](/source/Dipterocarp) forest and humid coastal woodlands of [Queensland](/source/Queensland). All known species are [corticolous](/source/Corticolous_lichen), [colonising](/source/Colonisation_(biology)) shaded [boles](/source/Trunk_(botany)) and large branches where high ambient humidity prevails; some taxa, particularly those rich in [lichexanthone](/source/Lichexanthone), also tolerate intermittent [sunflecks](/source/Sunfleck) on [mangrove](/source/Mangrove) trunks and creek bank trees. Field surveys show that populations decline rapidly after [canopy](/source/Canopy_(botany)) opening or prolonged [desiccation](/source/Desiccation), so the presence of *Sarcographina* is a practical [indicator](/source/Bioindicator) of long-established, moisture-rich [woodland](/source/Woodland) habitat.[4]

## Species

[Species Fungorum](/source/Species_Fungorum) (in the [Catalogue of Life](/source/Catalogue_of_Life)) accepts six species of *Sarcographina*:[1]

- *[Sarcographina contortuplicata](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarcographina_contortuplicata&action=edit&redlink=1)* Müll.Arg. (1891)[5]

- *[Sarcographina cyclospora](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarcographina_cyclospora&action=edit&redlink=1)* Müll.Arg. (1887)[3]

- *[Sarcographina farinulenta](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarcographina_farinulenta&action=edit&redlink=1)* Zahlbr. (1928)[6]

- *[Sarcographina heterospora](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarcographina_heterospora&action=edit&redlink=1)* (Nyl.) Z.F.Jia & Lücking (2017)[7]

- *[Sarcographina maculata](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarcographina_maculata&action=edit&redlink=1)* Kr.P.Singh & G.P.Sinha (1994)[8]

- *[Sarcographina sandwicensis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sarcographina_sandwicensis&action=edit&redlink=1)* Zahlbr. (1912)[9]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CoL_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CoL_1-1) ["*Sarcographina*"](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/63RPX). *[Catalogue of Life](/source/Catalogue_of_Life)*. [Species 2000](/source/Species_2000): Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 22 June 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Wijayawardene_et_al._2022_2-0)** Wijayawardene, N.N.; Hyde, K.D.; Dai, D.Q.; Sánchez-García, M.; Goto, B.T.; Saxena, R.K.; et al. (2022). ["Outline of Fungi and fungus-like taxa – 2021"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358798332). *Mycosphere*. **13** (1): 53–453 [161]. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5943/mycosphere/13/1/2](https://doi.org/10.5943%2Fmycosphere%2F13%2F1%2F2). [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[10481/76378](https://hdl.handle.net/10481%2F76378).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Müller_1887_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Müller_1887_3-1) Müller, J. (1887). ["Lichenologische Beiträge XXVI"](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/70321) [Lichenological contributions XXVI]. *Flora (Regensburg)* (in Latin). **70** (26/27): 423–429 [425].

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Lücking_&_Rivas_Plata_2008_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Lücking_&_Rivas_Plata_2008_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Lücking_&_Rivas_Plata_2008_4-2) Lücking, Robert; Rivas Plata, Eimy (2008). ["Clave y guía ilustrada para géneros de Graphidaceae"](https://archive.org/details/2008_Glalia_1_1) [Key and illustrated guide to genera of Graphidaceae]. *GLALIA* (in Spanish). **1** (1): 1–39.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Müller_1891_5-0)** Müller, J. (1891). "Lichenes Tonkinensis a cl. B. Balansa lecti" [Lichens of Tonkin collected by the renowned B. Balansa]. *Hedwigia* (in Latin). **30**: 181–189.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Zahlbruckner_1928_6-0)** Zahlbruckner, A. (1928). "Neue und ungenügend beschriebene javanische Flechten" [New and inadequately described Javanese lichens]. *Annales de Cryptogamie Exotique* (in German). **1**: 152.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Jia_&_Lücking_2017_7-0)** Jia, Ze-Feng; Lücking, Robert (2017). ["Resolving the genus *Phaeographina* Müll. Arg. in China"](https://doi.org/10.3897%2Fmycokeys.21.11986). *MycoKeys* (21): 13–32. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.3897/mycokeys.21.11986](https://doi.org/10.3897%2Fmycokeys.21.11986).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Singh_&_Sinha_1994_8-0)** Singh, K.P.; Sinha, G.P. (1994). *Lichen Flora of Nagaland*. p. 114.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Zahlbruckner_1912_9-0)** Zahlbruckner, A. (1912). "Neue Flechten – VI" [New lichens – VI]. *Annales Mycologici* (in Latin). **10** (4): 359–384.

Taxon identifiers Sarcographina Wikidata: Q21215982 Wikispecies: Sarcographina AusLichen: 30019812 CoL: 63RPX GBIF: 7249756 IndexFungorum: 4848 IRMNG: 1065955 MycoBank: 4848 NCBI: 377392 Open Tree of Life: 532851 SpeciesFungorum: 4848

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sarcographina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcographina) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcographina?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.