Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2007
The sorediate species Hyperphyscia variabilis Scutari from South America is described as new. Its apparent affinities with H. crocata Kashiw.are briefly discussed. The correlation between the type of ascospores (number and disposition of septa) and the geographical distribution of species throughout the genus is stressed, and three species groups are distinguishedon this basis. Two new combination, Hyperphyscia coralloidea (Lynge) Scutari and Hyperphyscia viridissima (Mull. Arg.) Scutari, are proposed.