Flora of New Zealand Series

Type : Phaeographis dendritica (Ach.) Müll.Arg. [=Opegrapha dendritica Ach.]

Descriptions : Flora (1985: 382). See also Staiger (2002: 309–313).

Phaeographis comprises c. 150 mainly tropical species (Staiger & Kalb 2004d) and is included in the family Graphidaceae (Staiger 2002; Eriksson et al. 2004; Pennycook & Galloway 2004; Eriksson 2005). It is an artificial, spore-based genus (q.v. Graphina) characterised by a crustose thallus, lirellate apothecia, simple paraphyses and transversely septate, or muriform, thick-walled, brown ascospores. The generic name needs conserving against several earlier names [Creographa A.Massal.,  Ectographis Trevis.,  Hymenodecton Leight.,  Lecanactis Eschw.,  Phleographa A.Massal.,  Platygramma G.Mey.,  Pyrochroa Eschw., and Pyrographa A.Massal.]. It is discussed in several accounts (Magnusson 1955; Wirth & Hale 1963, 1978; Nakanishi 1966, 1977; Singh & Awasthi 1981; Awasthi 1991; Makhija et al. 1992b; Archer 2000b; Kalb 2001b; Staiger 2002; López de Silanes & Álvarez 2003). Three species are recorded from New Zealand (Hayward 1977; Staiger 2002). Phaeographis exaltata (Mont. & Bosch) Müll.Arg. lloway 1985a: 382–383) is now referable to Leiorreuma (q.v.).