The taxonomy of the genus Sticta in Hawaii is reassessed, based on a separately published molecular phylogeny using the fungal barcoding marker ITS. Based on Magnusson and Zahlbruckner's treatment from 1943 and Magnusson's catalogue from 1955, seven species of Sticta and three infraspecific taxa had been reported from the archipelago, all widespread except the putative endemic S. plumbicolor. Here we provide a taxonomic treatment of 13 taxa, 12 species and one subspecies, distinguished in a previous phylogenetic analysis: S. acyphellata, S. andina, S. antoniana, S. emmanueliana, S. flynnii, S. fuliginosa, S. hawaiiensis, S. limbata, S. plumbicolor, S. scabrosa subsp. hawaiiensis, S. smithii, S. tomentosa and S. waikamoi. All taxa are described, discussed and illustrated and a dichotomous key is presented. The implications of revised species taxonomies for studies in other fields such as ecology, ecophysiology, biogeography, biochemistry, and applications such as environmental monitoring are discussed. We also propose a protocol to use Sticta lichens to monitor the environmental health of Hawaiian ecosystems.

The identity of Lecanora ecorticata has been uncertain due to conflicting reports of the presence of zeorin and the loss of the holotype. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the species probably belongs in Ramalinaceae, where it is the first leprose species reported. Zeorin was found to be absent in recently collected material of L. ecorticata, including specimens from the type locality, and the report of zeorin in the lost holotype is considered to be due to contamination. A new genus, Lithocalla, is erected to accommodate L. ecorticata and a second closely related species, that occurs in the Falkland Islands, is newly combined as Lithocalla malouina. A lectotype is selected for L. ecorticata. Lithocalla is characterized by a leprose thallus containing usnic acid with fatty acids and terpenoids, but no zeorin; ascomata and conidiomata are unknown.

We provide an updated, worldwide key to species of the genus Carbacanthographis, which is characterized by lirellate ascomata, a carbonized excipulum, warty periphysoids, and mostly non-amyloid ascospores. New collections and revision of herbarium material revealed 17 species new to science: Carbacanthographis acanthoamicta, with a thinly corticate thallus, a completely carbonized excipulum, apically warty paraphyses, small and (sub-)muriform ascospores, and salazinic acid; C. acanthoparaphysata, with a completely carbonized excipulum, apically warty paraphyses, small and submuriform, amyloid ascospores, and protocetraric acid; C. aggregata, with aggregated lirellae, a completely carbonized excipulum, small and submuriform ascospores, and salazinic acid; C. amazonica, with a completely carbonized excipulum, small and transversely septate ascospores, and stictic acid; C. aptrootii, with a completely carbonized excipulum, apically warty paraphyses, small to medium-sized and transversely septate, amyloid ascospores, and norstictic acid; C. brasiliensis, with a completely carbonized excipulum, apically warty paraphyses, medium-sized and transversely septate, amyloid ascospores, and no substances; C. chionophoroides, with a completely carbonized excipulum, small and transversely septate ascospores, and protocetraric acid; C. halei, with a corticate thallus, a completely carbonized excipulum, small and transversely septate ascospores, and stictic acid; C. latispora, with a completely carbonized excipulum, very large and transversely septate ascospores, and stictic acid; C. megalospora, with a corticate thallus, a completely carbonized excipulum, very large muriform ascospores, and stictic acid; C. multiseptata, with a completely carbonized excipulum, very large and transversely septate ascospores, and protocetraric acid; C. novoguineensis, with a completely carbonized excipulum, small and submuriform ascospores, and salazinic acid; C. pseudorustica, with a corticate thallus, a completely carbonized excipulum, medium-sized and transversely septate, amyloid ascospores, and stictic acid; C. salazinicoides, with a corticate thallus, a completely carbonized excipulum, medium-sized and muriform ascospores, and salazinic acid; C. sipmaniana, with a completely carbonized excipulum, apically warty paraphyses, small and transversely septate, weakly amyloid ascospores, and norstictic acid; C. spongiosa, with a completely carbonized excipulum, inspersed hymenium, small, transversely septate ascospores, and stictic acid; and C. subchionophora, with a completely carbonized excipulum, small and transversely septate ascospores, and protocetraric acid. New molecular data confirm the position of C. megalospora in the genus. In addition, we propose one new combination, Carbacanthographis nematoides. The known world distribution of four species is expanded: C. amicta is reported from Papua New Guinea; C. induta from Thailand; C. marcescens from French Guyana and Papua New Guinea; and C. stictica from Colombia, French Guyana, Venezuela and Suriname. For all species, short descriptions and distribution notes are given, and most species are illustrated.

Three new species of the lichen genus Caloplaca (Teloschistaceae) from India are described. Caloplaca jatolensis belongs to the Triophthalmidium section, while C. pseudisteroides and C. subleptozona belong to the Sideritis group.

Lichen-forming fungi are symbiotic organisms forming a thallus with autotrophic green algae and/or cyanobacteria. Protoparmeliopsis muralis (Schreb.) Choisy is a green-algal lichen-forming fungus associating with Trebouxia photobionts. It is known as one of the most successful urban lichens in the world. In this paper, the development of microsatellite markers specific for the mycobiont of Protoparmeliopsis muralis is reported. In order to avoid algal contaminations, the pure mycobiont culture was obtained and subsequently used for DNA isolation. For DNA enrichment, the Fast Isolation by AFLP of Sequences Containing Repeats (FIASCO) method was applied. Of the 380 clones sequenced, 62 contained repeats. In total, 38 primer pairs were designed and tested, and finally 7 primer pairs were polymorphic based on 21 specimens of P. muralis.

Seven Graphis species are reported as new to Europe from the Serra de Sintra and the Planalto das Cezaredas, two regions of Portugal where graphidoid Graphidaceae are abundant and diverse. The following species were identified: Graphis cincta, G. crebra, G. handelii, G. leptospora, G. lineola, G. plumierae, and G. verminosa. Many of these share two characters: a densely inspersed hymenium and the presence of norstictic acid in the thallus. A key to the Graphis species known from Europe is provided. The possible reasons for the high, previously unknown, diversity of graphidoid Graphidaceae in this region are discussed. Global warming might be a contributory factor.

New collections from inner China have revealed further species in the genus Fuscopannaria: two new species, Fuscopannaria cyanogranulosa P. M. Jørg. and Fuscopannaria obtegens P. M. Jørg. are described and Fuscopannaria subgemmascens Upreti & Divakar is reported as new to Sichuan. A key to the sorediate species of the region is provided. The first fertile specimen of Kroswia gemmascens has been discovered, much further west than previously known, showing the genus to be related most closely to Fuscopannaria despite its gelatinous, homoiomerous thallus. Some collections from the Mulu region in Borneo have added to our knowledge of the difficult lowland taxa of Parmeliella, two of which proved to be new: Parmeliella plumosella P. M. Jørg. and Parmeliella polydactyla P. M. Jørg. & Coppins, both being quite unusual in containing “violet” Nostoc as cyanobiont. There is a surprising number of Asian collections with brightly coloured medullas: red-orange material has been named several times and is correctly referred to as Parmeliella endomilta Vain. The specimens with a yellow medulla are named Parmeliella endolutea P. M. Jørg., nom. nov. A key to the brightly coloured species of Parmeliella concentrated in SE Asia is given. A new corticolous Protopannaria has been discovered in Sichuan, and is described as P. corticola P. M. Jørg.

A quantitative cluster analysis of lichen distribution data demonstrates that the main biogeographical subdivision in the world's lichen biota is into a Gondwanan and a Laurasian element. Patterns at smaller scales mainly reflect local climate. Wallace's line is not a significant boundary for lichens. The Gondwana / Laurasia split also applies to lichenicolous fungi. To a considerable extent, it applies to many of the larger families and orders of lichens too, though at these ranks the affinities of the lichen biota of eastern Asia and temperate North America are sometimes ambiguous.

Detailed studies on the lichen genus Porina in Macaronesia have led to a reappraisal of the genuine identity of Porina atlantica (Erichsen) P. M. Jørg., a characteristic species that has previously been confused with P. guaranitica, P. heterospora, P. nucula, P. mastoidea or P. rhodostoma in the literature, and is here reported from Madeira, the Canary Islands, Ireland, France and Portugal. Two new species are described: P. effilata Brand & Sérus. sp. nov. (known from Madeira, the Canary Islands, Great Britain, Ireland and Portugal) and P. ocoteae Brand & Sérus. sp. nov. (restricted to La Palma, Canary Islands, and São Jorge in the Azores). Porina leptospora Nyl. is recognized at the species level, and P. isidiata Kalb & Hafellner is reduced into synonymy with P. atlantica. A key to all known species of Porina in Macaronesia is provided.

Verrucaria madida is described as a new species with a green, subgelatinous thallus, and small ascospores; it is unique in the genus in having 4-spored asci. Three other small-spored freshwater species, V. aquatilis, V. rheitrophila and V. scabra, are compared. The type of pigment in the thallus cortex is a useful taxonomic character in the genus.

Caloplaca sorediella Arup is described as a new species. It is so far known only from extreme maritime situations on seashore rocks in western England, Scotland and Wales.

An emended circumscription of the genus Paulia Fée is given and the morphology and anatomy of the eight included species analysed in detail. Four new species are described, P. gibbosa Henssen and P. rhizophora Henssen from Bermuda, P. tessellata Henssen from Bermuda and Mexico and P. stipitata Henssen from Puerto Rico. The new combination P. cubana (Tuck.) Henssen is made. The genus is characterized by an umbilicate thallus composed of reticulately arranged hyphae; apothecia without an excipulum, with branched paraphyses and thickwalled ascospores; and a member of the Chroococcales as phycobiont with brown gelatinous algal sheaths in which characteristic particles are deposited. The species differ in the external morphology of the thallus and apothecia. The species all grow on limestone, and most of them are confined to islands; the distribution of the genus is world-wide.

Sphaerophorus diplotypus Vainio is reported as new to mainland Africa (Tanzania). Sphaerophorus digitaius Wang-Yang & Lai is reduced to a synonym of S. diplotypus. The name Sphaerophorus dodgei Ohlsson is validated and a description of the species is given. Sphaerophorus dodgei is recorded as being widespread and common in the Valdivian rainforest of Chile and Argentina. Sphaerophorus imshaugii Ohlsson is reported as new to the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Sphaerophorus macrocarpus Ohlsson is reported as new to South America (Chile). In S. dodgei and S. macrocarpus the spore ornamentation consists of mazaedial material added to the spore wall after the spores have been released from the asci. Concentric bodies occur in young ascospores of S. macrocarpus. A protocetraric-acid-deficient strain of S. microsporus Ohlsson is reported for the first time. Sphaerophorus tibellii Wedin, from northern New Zealand, is described as new.

The decomposition of ground, dead (oven-dried) lichens has been studied in laboratory experiments that aimed to simulate decomposition in nature. Enzymes, common in soil animal guts and soil microbes, solubilized 29% of the lichen weight and 25% of lichen nitrogen. Approximately 9% of lichen nitrogen was mobilized to mineral forms during 97 days' incubation in soil or sand. Low moisture levels reduced the amount of nitrogen mobilized. In short-term (30 days) incubation studies, lichens at optimum moisture but low temperature lost 9% of their initial dry weight due to microbial metabolism. In contrast, lichens incubated for 30 and 135 days at similar moisture levels but higher temperatures lost 19% and 30% respectively of their initial dry weight due to microbial metabolism.

The new lichen genus Musaespora is described from Java and Papua New Guinea. It is the first known pyrenocarpous lichen genus with campylidia, and appears to belong to the Aspidotheliaceae. Three species are described, two foliicolous species from Papua New Guinea and one corticolous species from Java. In addition, a list is given of the foliicolous lichen flora of the site in Papua New Guinea, where the foliicolous Musaespora species have been found, two more new foliicolous species are described, Echinoplaca hispida and Sporopodium lucidum, and 19 species are recorded for the first time form Papua New Guinea.

Two new corticolous species, Hafellia alisioae and H. gomerana (lichenized Ascomycetes, Physciaceae), collected from twigs of coastal shrubs on the Canary Islands are described. The new species are discussed in relation to other Hafellia species with similar characters. An overview and a key for 23 corticolous species of Hafellia with 2-celled ascospores is provided.

Notes are provided on the genus Ramonia and its four species represented in the British Isles, including R. dictyospora sp. nov. and R. nigra sp. nov.

Verrucaria elaeina Borrer is a misunderstood species of shaded which is widespread in the British Isles. It resembles the freshwater species V. praetermissa, but differs in the more prominent perithecia, the lack of a layer, the slightly smaller ascospores, and the lack of a perispore.