Lepraria atlantica is described as new from acidic rocks in the British Isles; it contains porphyrilic acid, cf. rangiformic acid or rarely cf. roccellic acid, and atranorin. It differs from L. cacumimim in the diffuse, powdery thallus. It is morphologically similar to L. jackii, but differs in the possession of porphyrilic acid.

Caloplaca thuringiaca Søchting & Stordeur is described from detritus on dry south-exposed slopes in Thuringia, central Germany. The species belongs to the Caloplaca holocarpa complex, but is different from the other terricolous taxa described in the complex, which all have alpine or polar distributions.

The new lichenicolous fungus Gelatinopsis roccellae is described from NW Spain, where it grows on Roccella fuciformis and R. phycopsis. It differs from G. ericewrum, which grows on Dibaeis, by the shorter ascospores, smaller ascomata, and the absence of an olivaceous excipular and epihymenial pigment.

The generic name Paralethariicola gen. nov. is introduced for a lichenicolous fungus very similar to Lethariicola, but differing by the presence of excipular hairs, asci with a hemiamyloid apical ring and a more flattened apex, curved or slightly helicoid ascospores with ± pointed ends, and thicker paraphyses. The single species, Paralethariicola aspiciliae sp. nov., is lichenicolous on Aspicilia, and is known from continental Spain and Sardinia.

The Azorean lichen previously and erroneously referred in the literature to Erioderma wnghtii, belongs to the complex, widespread species E. leylandii, and is escribed as subsp. azoricum, possibly representing a relic, ancestral form with a composite chemistry. It is presently only known from Pico where it is under threat owing to the destruction of the forests.

Micarea neostipitata sp. nov. is described from conifer trunks in conifer woodlands and bogs in eastern U.S.A. It is superficially similar to M.stipitata, but differs from that and other related species in having minute crystalline inspersions in the hymenium and pycnidial wall, which apparently belong to lobaric acid, shorter conidia, and in possessing fumarprotocetraric acid in the thallus.

The new genus Coniarthonia is described to accommodate a group of species previously placed in Anhonia and Arthotheliwn. Crystallized red pigments that are distributed throughout hydrophobic ascomatal structures are characteristic of the new genus, which includes species with both muriform and transversely septate ascospores. Coniarthonia erythrocarpa, C. gregarina, C. pulchernma, C. pyrrhula and C. ivilmsiana are new combinations, and C. haematodea is new to science. Two subgroups are distinguished in the genus: the C. pyrrhula group, with larger ascospores, and the C. pulckcrruna group, which has comparatively small, one-septate ascospores. The reddish compounds are characterized by TLC. A key to the species is provided.

The biological status of Chiodecton epiphyllum (Arthoniales: Roccellaceae), described as a foliicolous lichen from Papua New Guinea, is reassessed, based on additional material from Brazil, Costa Rica, and Papua New Guinea. The species is a lichenicolous fungus growing on the foliicolous lichen Coenogonium flavicans (Gyalectales: Gyalectaceae). Furthermore, its ascomatal anatomy and lichenicolous growth habit suggest placement in the related genus Plectocarpon, instead of Chiodecton. We therefore propose the new combination Plectocarpon epiphyllum [Bas.: Chiodecton epiphyllum]. The species is further lectotypified on its ascomata since parts of the original description which denote vegetative characteristics refer to the sterile thallus of the host lichen.

The first lichen records from the Lakshadweep (Laccadive) Islands are presented.Lithothelium insulare (Pyrenulaceae) is described as new and nine other taxa are reported. The poor lichen flora, dominated by pantropical species, is probably a result of the lack of natural habitats in this area.

Polycoccum crespoae sp. nov. is described from thalli of Chondropsis semiviridis collected in Australia (Victoria). It has consistently 4-spored asci but differs from known 4-spored species in the size and shape of the ascospores. Attention is also drawn to another undescribed Polycoccum found on another genus of Parmeliaceae, Karoowia adhaerens, from South Africa (Cape Province).

Cybebe was described as a monotypic genus in the Coniocybaceae distinguished from Chaenotheca by its unusual ascus ontogeny and its unpigmented spore wall. In a molecular phylogeny based on maximum parsimony analyses of their ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDXA sequences, specimens of Cybebe gracilenta formed a strongly supported group with Chaenotheca gracillima. Thisgroup in turn is also well supported as a part of Chaenotheca indicating that the features characteristic of Cybebe are indeed autapomorphic and that Cybebe gracilenta should be included in Chaenotheca.

The early development of Hypogymnia physodes from soredia to the formation of stratified lobes has been studied experimentally in the vicinity of a copper-smelting plant in theMiddle Urals. SEM investigations combined with life table analyses of early developmental stages revealed decreases in soredial survival and developmental rate in polluted localities. Non-stricatified pre-thallus stages without an epicortex were tolerant to toxic impact and were able to survive even in the zone with the highest pollution (lichen desert zone). The sensitivity of developmental stagesancreased after stratified lobes had developed.

Radial 14C/C profiles across three individuals of the crustose lichen Rhizocarpon geographicum (L.) DC. have been determined using accelerator mass spectrometry. These data were used to assess whether lifespan estimates can be determined in this species using 14C/C isotope ratio measurements. 14C/C profiles are relatively flat with Δ14C values (deviations from the modern radiocarbon standard) for the radial samples displaying a small spread ranging from 130 to 200 per mil. The data are consistent with carbon cycling based on growth patterns involving replacement and fusion of areoles within the thallus as well as or instead of cellular or molecular replacement. Consequently, lifespan estimates cannot be obtained from 14C/C measurements of this species and the Δ14C profiles provide no insights into whether the relationship between size and age is linear or curvilinear in this species.