''Graphis breussii'' is a species of

script lichen A script lichen, or graphid lichen, is a member of a group of lichens which have spore producing structures that look like writing on the lichen body. The structures are elongated and narrow apothecia called lirellae, which look like short scribbles ...

in the family

Graphidaceae The Graphidaceae are a family of lichens in the order Ostropales. Distribution and ecology The vast majority of Graphidaceae species are restricted to the tropics. Most Graphidaceae species are epiphytic (i.e. they grow only on plants). Gener ...

. Found in Venezuela, it was formally described as a new species in 2009 by Gerhard Neuwirth and

Robert Lücking Robert Lücking (born 1964) is a German lichenologist. He is a leading expert on foliicolous lichens–lichens that live on leaves. Life and career Born in Ulm in 1964, Lücking earned both his master's (1990) and PhD degree (1994) at the Univer ...

. The type specimen was collected by the first author from Samariapo (Región Costa del Orinoco, Amazonas (Venezuelan state), Amazonas). Here the lichen was found corticolous lichen, growing on the bark of dead branches of shrubs growing on granite rocks along the eastern banks of the Orinoco river. Characteristics of the lichen include the large, prominent lirellae with striate labia and a thin thallus, thalline cover, a completely carbonized (blackened) exciple, and four submuriform (i.e., somewhat chambered) ascospores per ascus. It contains norstictic acid, a lichen product. The botanical name, specific epithet honours Austrian lichenologist Othmar Breuss.

References

Graphis (lichen), breussii Lichen species Lichens described in 2009 Lichens of Venezuela Taxa named by Robert Lücking {{Ostropales-stub