Ramalina celastri is a highly variable, widely distributed pan-subtropical lichen species. In Australasia the species had been separated into two subspecies; R. celastri subsp. celastri and R. celastri subsp. ovalis. This study compares morphological variation, substratum preference and sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and intergenic spacer (IGS) regions of ribosomal DNA from a range of specimens from New Zealand and one from Australia. Bayesian and ML trees generated using the sequence data form two well-supported clades corresponding to the two previously recognized subspecies. Molecular, morphological and geographical differences support the recognition of R. ovalis at the species rank.

Eight species of Herpothallon are recorded from the Andaman Islands, four of which are described as new: Herpothallon coralloides, H. globuliferum, H. lutescens and H. minutum. All these new species have a non-pigmented thallus, prothallus, hypothallus and pseudisidia. Herpothallon coralloides and H. lutescens possess cylindrical pseudisidia whereas H. globuliferum and H. minutum have granular to globose pseudisidia. Herpothallon globuliferum is foliicolous. Herpothallon echinatum, H. granulare, H. granulosum and H. philippinum are reported for the first time from the Andaman Islands. A key to the Indian species is provided. Heiomasia pallescens (Graphidaceae), a byssoid taxon with a disc-shaped isidioid structure, is also described as new to science.

Porpidia irrigua is described as a new species; it has a white thallus, sessile apothecia, contains the depside methyl 2'-O-methylmicrophyllinate, and grows on damp siliceous rocks. It was previously included in a wide concept of P. contraponenda, but that species differs in the thicker thallus, partly immersed apothecia, and the possession of an unidentified depside in addition to methyl 2′-O-methylmicrophyllinate, which can be separated by thin-layer chromatography using Solvent System G.

The new obligately lichenicolous fungus, Melaspilea tucumana Flakus, Etayo & Kukwa, inhabiting thalli of saxicolous Pertusaria s. lat. is described from Tucumano-Boliviano vegetation in Bolivia. The species is characterized by the gall formation and superficial, lirelliform to branched, aggregated apothecioid ascomata with widely exposed discs. The ascomata of M. tucumana are initially perithecioid and immersed in the host thallus, but become superficial and apothecioid when mature, and thus resemble the genus Buelliella. This may suggest the placement of the new species in Dothideomycetes.

A revision of corticolous Mazosia specimens showed that four species are present, all differing from the foliicolous taxa in the genus. One of them is widely distributed in the tropics and the others are, as far as is known, neotropical. Three species are co-occurring in NE Brazil. They can be distinguished as follows: M. leptosticta (Nyl.) Sparrius has longer ascospores (22–35×4–7 µm) than the other species, M. endonigra A. A. Menezes, M. Cáceres & Aptroot sp. nov. has sessile apothecia on a smooth thallus and occasionally also sessile pycnidia, M. carnea (Eckfeldt) Aptroot & M. Cáceres comb. nov. has immersed apothecia and a smooth thallus, and M. viridescens (Fée) Aptroot & M. Cáceres comb. nov. has distinct verrucae on the thallus. Descriptions are given and an identification key is presented to all Mazosia species with 3-septate ascospores, which includes all corticolous species known so far.

The importance of the anatomy and fine morphology of reproductive structures for the systematics of the family Parmeliaceae is highlighted by the new genus Notoparmelia, described here for Australasian species of Parmelia. These species were known to form a monophyletic lineage but correlated characters for its delimitation were lacking. A major characteristic used here for the circumscription of this genus is the overlooked apothecial anatomy. The proper exciple is reduced to one layer formed exclusively by large hyphae without any clear branching pattern and embedded in an abundant polysaccharide matrix. This feature differs from the rest of Parmeliaceae which have a stratified three-layered proper exciple composed of a thin hyaline layer, intermediate layer and basal cortex-like structure. The anatomy of proper exciple, together with the thickness of spore walls and other morphological characters such as lobe morphology, pseudocyphellae and rhizine type, allow a precise diagnosis of the new genus. The area of distribution is also useful for characterizing this genus. Sixteen new combinations are proposed.

Three new corticolous Arthoniaceae are described from the Chapada do Araripe, an isolated table mountain in the state of Ceará, in NE Brazil. Arthonia stipitata, lichenicolous on unidentified sorediate crusts, with red, tiny, stipitate apothecia, 3-septate ascospores, 10–12×3·0–3·5 µm. Stirtonia lucida with rather small ascigerous areas, lichexanthone and zeorin in the thallus, globose asci, ascospores 8 per ascus, ellipsoid, 17–19×8–10 µm, with occasionally some longitudinal septa. Stirtonia ochracea with rather small ochraceous ascigerous areas, thallus without secondary metabolites, ascospores 8 per ascus, (7–)9(–11)-septate, 47–55×14–20 µm. These species were found during a study aiming at an inventory of the lichen biodiversity of the Cerrado forests in the area, and were not found during earlier ecological studies in the Caatinga forests in the same area. Stirtonia lucida is the first species assigned to this genus which occasionally has some longitudinal septa in the ascospores. Such specimens might be confused with Cryptothecia species.

A new genus, Catenarina (Teloschistaceae, Ascomycota), with three species is described from the Southern Hemisphere, supported by molecular data. All species contain the secondary metabolite 7-chlorocatenarin, previously unknown in lichens. Catenarinadesolata is a non-littoral, lichenicolous species found on volcanic and soft sedimentary rock at 190–300 m in and near steppes in southernmost Chile and on the subantarctic island, Kerguelen. Catenarina vivasiana grows on maritime rocks and on rock outcrops in lowland Nothofagus forests, but has also been found at altitudes up to c. 580 m on moss and detritus on outcrops in Tierra del Fuego. The Antarctic species Caloplaca iomma is transferred to Catenarina based on chemical data; it grows on rocks near the coast in maritime Antarctica.

A key is given to the foliose and squamulose lichens known so far from Rondônia, including also corticolous crustose lichens with a chlorococcoid alga. The foliicolous Lecanorales found are also listed. The following four new corticolous Lecanorales are described from Rondônia: Calopadia granulosa with a granular, corticate thallus and ascospores 1 per ascus, 33–38×10·5–13·0 µm; Crustospathula amazonica with irregularly capitate to nearly globose, c. 0·2–0·4 mm diam. soralia on cartilaginous stalks; Flavoparmelia plicata with a thallus containing usnic and protocetraric acids, with laminal, irregular, globose to cylindrical isidia which are often easily abraded and showing the whitish medulla, but not sorediate or postulate; Physcidia striata with ascending squamules, without hypothallus, often with laminal isidia in defined areas towards lobe tips of some, usually sterile lobes, and often with biatorine apothecia with ascospores simple to 1-septate, (6·2–)7·5–10·0×(2·5–)3·0–3·5 µm. In the whole lichen flora of the lowland rainforest region of Rondônia, the following traits can be discerned: foliose lichens amount to only 17 species (2·7% of nearly 600), 33 (5·5%) are squamulose, while the vast majority (91·8%) are crustose. Cyanobacteria are present in only 6 (1%) species. A chlorococcoid alga present in c. 100 (16%), 12 of which (2%) have a myrmecioid alga. The remainder of the species, a staggering 83%, have trentepohlioid alga, including 6 (1%) with Phycopeltis. In neotropical lowland rainforest, the vast majority of the lichens are crustose and contain a trentepohlioid alga, and the Arthoniales, Graphidaceae and pyrenocarpous lichens are the main groups, each accounting for roughly a quarter of the lichen biodiversity.

The new genus Brianaria S. Ekman & M. Svensson is introduced for the Micarea sylvicola group, with the new combinations Brianaria bauschiana (Körb.) S. Ekman & M. Svensson, B. lutulata (Nyl.) S. Ekman & M. Svensson, B.sylvicola (Flot. ex Körb.) S. Ekman & M. Svensson and B. tuberculata (Sommerf.) S. Ekman & M. Svensson. The new genus is characterized by a chlorococcoid, non-micareoid photobiont, small, convex apothecia without an excipulum, an ascus of the ‘Psora-type’, 0–1-septate ascospores, dimorphic paraphyses, and immersed pycnidia containing bacilliform conidia. Brianaria is shown to form a monophyletic group in the Psoraceae, where it is probably the sister group to Psora and Protoblastenia.

The following new corticolous species are described. Thelopsis cruciata Aptroot & M. Cáceres, with an olive-green thallus, immersed red-brown perithecia and c. 50–100 cruciate ascospores per ascus, 7–10×4–7 µm, from Brazil. Topelia argentinensis Aptroot, L. I. Ferraro & M. Cáceres, with a verrucose, partly almost isidiate, greenish grey thallus, immersed pinkish perithecia and 8 uniseriate muriform ascospores per ascus, 12–17×7–11 µm, from Argentina. Topelia tetraspora Aptroot & M. Cáceres, with a c. 0·1–0·6 mm thick layer of coralloid to usually flattened, irregularly palmately branched isidia c. 0·05 mm diam., ascospores 15–19×2–6-septate, muriform, ellipsoid, 39–50×11–16 µm, only up to 4 per ascus maturing, from Brazil. Thelopsis inordinata is reported for the first time from South America, from Guyana. A key is given to all currently known species of Topelia and Thelopsis. The distinction between these genera has become arbitrary with the recent addition of more or less intermediate species.

A world key is given to the species of Pyxine with lichexanthone in the upper cortex. Pyxine pustulata Aptroot & Jungbluth is described as a new corticolous species of Pyxine from São Paulo State in Brazil, with lichexanthone in the cortex, upper surface K−, a yellow to ochraceous medulla and clusters of laminal polysidiangia. Brazil is clearly the centre of Pyxine diversity, with 34 out of c. 70 species known worldwide.

The green algal photobionts of 12 Xanthoria, seven Xanthomendoza, two Teloschistes species and Josefpoeltia parva (all Teloschistaceae) were analyzed. Xanthoria parietina was sampled on four continents. More than 300 photobiont isolates were brought into sterile culture. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (nrITS; 101 sequences) and the large subunit of the RuBiSco gene (rbcL; 54 sequences) of either whole lichen DNA or photobiont isolates were phylogenetically analyzed. ITS and rbcL phylogenies were congruent, although some subclades had low bootstrap support. Trebouxia arboricola,T. decolorans and closely related, unnamed Trebouxia species, all belonging to clade A, were found as photobionts of Xanthoria species. Xanthomendoza species associated with either T. decolorans (clade A), T. impressa, T. gelatinosa (clade I) or with an unnamed Trebouxia species. Trebouxia gelatinosa genotypes (clade I) were the photobionts of Teloschistes chrysophthalmus,T. hosseusianus and Josefpoeltia parva. Only weak correlations between distribution patterns of algal genotypes and environmental conditions or geographical location were observed.

Three species of Graphis (Graphidaceae) are described from Mexico from two research stations of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM): Chamela Biological Station in the Cuixmala-Chamela Biosphere Reserve, Jalisco, and Los Tuxtlas Tropical Biological Station in the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve, Veracruz. The new species Graphis bungartzii Barcenas-Peña, Lücking, Herrera-Campos & R. Miranda is characterized by erumpent lirellae with a lateral thalline margin, striate labia and laterally carbonized exciple, transversely septate ascospores, and norstictic and connorstictic acids. Graphis chamelensis Barcenas-Peña & Lücking has prominent lirellae with a basal to lateral thalline margin, entire labia and completely carbonized exciple, transversely septate ascospores, and norstictic acid. Finally, Graphis rosae-emiliae Barcenas-Peña & Lücking is characterized by erumpent lirellae with lateral thalline margin, striate labia and completely carbonized exciple, transversely septate ascospores, and no substances detected by TLC. We present updates to the world key to Graphis for 41 newly described or reinstated species since the world key was published in 2009. The following new combination is proposed: Pallidogramme parvicarpum (B. O. Sharma & Khadilkar) Lücking comb. nov., based on Graphis parvicarpa B. O. Sharma & Khadilkar.

The new species Micarea usneae is described from Madeira. It has been found at two localities where it grew on epiphytic Usnea thalli. Micarea usneae is distinguished by a very thin pale brownish thallus, pallid to greyish black or bluish subglobose apothecia of 0·1–0·3 mm diameter, very narrow (1·5–2·5 µm) ascospores, black pycnidia and strongly curved to sigmoid macroconidia. Phylogenetic analyses using mtSSU sequences place the new species in the Micarea peliocarpa group. Catillaria usneicola and Cladonia parasitica are recorded for the first time from Madeira. A key to the lichenicolous species on Usnea in Macaronesia is provided.

The following new species of Arthoniales are described from Rondônia: Alyxoria fuscospora with 3-septate clavate ascospores of 20–23×4·5–5·5 µm having a gelatinous layer soon appearing evenly brown (also known from other tropical countries). Chiodecton complexum with discrete soralia, immersed apothecia in branched lines and 3-septate ascospores (26–)33–40×2·5–3·5 µm. Coniarthonia rosea, similar to C. pulcherrima but with the apothecia pink and more irregular in outline and the ascospores 13–16×5·5–6·5 µm. Cresponea flavosorediata with yellow-olive soralia, apothecia with yellow pruina and 7–9-septate ascospores, 26–38(–50)×5·0–6·5 µm. Cresponea lichenicola, lichenicolous on a Pyrenula, with 0·1–0·3 mm wide apothecia with yellow pruina. Eremothecella helicella with helicoid curved c. 17–29-septate conidia c. 70–95×2 µm long if uncoiled, with septa 3–6 µm apart. The Arthoniales are a speciose component of the lowland rainforest of Rondônia. A key is provided to the corticolous species of most groups of Arthoniales found in Rondônia. The foliicolous species found so far are listed. Most are new records for Rondônia. Chrysothrix occidentalis is new to the Neotropics.

This study aims to quantify dispersal of airborne traffic-related elemental pollutants and concurring responses – relative growth rate (RGR), maximal quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), and chlorophylls (Chl ab) – in four epiphytic lichens (Lobaria pulmonaria, Parmelia sulcata, Ramalina farinacea, Usnea dasopoga). Lichens were transplanted from 25 September to 26 March to 1·5 m tall stands in open farmlands at 10, 15, 30, 50 and 100 m from the E6 highway (SE Norway), along three transects on each side usnea dasopoga of the road. The concentrations of most elements (Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Al, Zn, Ba, Cu, V, Cr, Ni, Co, Sn, As, Mo) significantly increased with increasing proximity to the road. Elements in bold had elevated concentrations relative to controls, at least in some species at 100 m. The heavy metal accumulation increased from foliose to fruticose lichens in the order: P. sulcata>L. pulmonaria>R. farinacea≫U. dasopoga. However, L. pulmonaria was the only species with strong pollutant-dependent reductions in growth, Fv/Fm, Chl ab, and Chl a/b-ratio. The RGR and viability parameters were adversely affected by the roadside environment near the road only (≤15 m), and only after substantial heavy metal accumulation. Measurement of metal accumulation in lichens is thus a far more sensitive way of monitoring road pollutants than recording growth and lichen viability. Despite strong species-specific contrasts in elemental concentrations, most road pollutant elements responded similarly to distance from the road in all species.

During 2010–12 collecting seasons, we visited 27 islands, locally called keys, in Florida Bay within the boundaries of Everglades National Park for the purpose of investigating their lichen flora. A disproportionate number of the resultant collections belong to Enterographa Fée, a genus mostly tropical in distribution. Currently, 11 species are known from Everglades National Park, of which Enterographa bradleyana, E. caudata, E. murrayana and E. nitidula are described here as new to science. Enterographa bradleyana is superificially similar to Enterographa divergens but has smaller ascospores, a wider perispore and contains gyrophoric acid. Enterographa candata is easily identified by an unusual chemistry of lichexanthone and schizopeltic acid and its extremely long tailed ascospores. Enterographa murrayana resembles E. anguinella in the field but has a different chemistry, wider ascospores with more septation and a wider perispore. Enterographa nitidula has an unusual fine powdery and glossy thallus, small 4-celled ascospores and contains an unidentified substance. Because a large number of Enterographa have been described (20 including those newly described here) since Sparrius monographed the genus in 2004, an updated world key to the genus is provided.

A world key to the 21 species of Stirtonia is presented. Three new Stirtonia species are described from the Neotropics: Stirtonia ibirapuitensis Aptroot, Käffer & S. M. Martins, with whitish to cream amoeboid ascigerous areas with lichexanthone on a greenish thallus without lichexanthone and ascospores of 27–32×9·5–12·5 µm; Stirtonia punctiformis Aptroot & Sipman, with ascigerous structures of thallus colour, consisting of one or more brown asci with brown walls with surrounding tissue, in groups or irregular lines and brown ascospores 61–73×27–35 µm; and Stirtonia viridis Aptroot, L. I. Ferraro, Sipman & M. Cáceres, with ascigerous structures mostly linear, branched and anastomosing, whitish, and contrasting with the often greenish thallus and with ascospores 50–58×15–22 µm. In addition, a specimen of S. neotropica is reported that contains some patches of lichexanthone, S. curvata is reported new to the Neotropics from Brazil and the Netherlands Antilles, and S. nivea is reported new to the Northern Hemisphere from Puerto Rico. Also, Crypthonia divaricatica Aptroot & Sipman, with an irregular, thick thallus with divaricatic and usnic acids and flat white ascigerous areas and macrocephalic 5–9-septate ascospores 20–27×9·5–12·5 µm is described from Mexico. While only one Stirtonia species was known from the Neotropics as recently as 2009, the total number of Stirtonia species known from the Neotropics is now 12, an equal number to the 12 species that are known from the Palaeotropics.