Omphalodiella patagonica Henssen gen. et sp. nov. is described from two Patagonian localities in Argentina. In habit the new lichen resembles some species of Acarospora in having brown, peltate thalli less than 3 mm wide with immersed apothecia. The ontogeny and structure of the apothecia and pycnidia correspond, however, to genera of the Parmeliaceae. The apothecia are provided with a meristematic, cupular exciple, and the amyloid asci contain 8 or less, ± globose spores. The short-celled conidiophores produce rod-shaped conidia of bayonet type. The thallus is provided with a narrow paraplectenchymatic upper and a broad prosoplectenchymatic, strongly gelatinized lower cortex. The thallus contains gyrophoric acid; the cortex contains ‘glomellifera brown ’.

Anamorphs of 17 taxa in the genus Umbilicaria (Lecanorales, Ascomycotina)a re connected with known teleomorphs through what is described as the thallic type of connection. Teleomorphs of Umbilicaria aprina Nyl. and Umbilicaria cinerascens (Arnold) Frey are described for the first time. Possible correlated trends in the evolution of anamorphs and teleomorphs are discussed.

Frequencies of anamorph and teleomorph production in 18 species of Umbilicaria were calculated from field samples and herbarium collections. In one group of species teleomorph production (with sexually generated ascospores) is almost entirely suppressed and compensated for by an abundant production ofanamorphs (asexual thalloconidia). A second group of species exhibits a continuum from exclusively anamorphic through ana-teleomorphic to exclusively teleomorphic individuals. In this group there are distinct biogeographic patterns in the distribution of the teleomorphic individuals. A third group consists of pairs of apparently closely related taxa where one taxon is richly anamorphic and rarely produces teleomorphs, whereas the other taxon is richly and exclusively teleomorphic; this can be referred to as a phylogenetic teleomorph-anamorph relationship. The members of these taxon pairs commonly have different geographical distributions.

Eighty-seven lichen taxa were collected at four localities near the leadzinc mine at Maarmorilik. These are listed alphabetically and grouped according to their ecological preferences. Lichens, which in Greenland are restricted to calcareous rocks and alkaline soil substrata, are well represented in the Maarmorilik area. In contrast, ferrugineous lichens appear to be comparatively rare. The lichens around the mining town are assumed to have accumulated significant concentrations of airborne lead and zinc. However, no damage to the lichens caused by heavy metals was observed.