The new genus of lichenicolous fungi Austrostigmidium is described from Antarctica and Tierra del Fuego (Chile). It is characterized by the presence of black pseudothecia, pseudoparaphyses, fissitunicate, I−, KI− asci and 3-septate hyaline ascospores. So far, the only known species grows on Mastodia tessellata (Verrucariales, Eurotiomycetes). The new genus is compared with anatomically close genera. Based on nuLSU and nuSSU markers we inferred its phylogenetic relationships and found that it belongs to the family Teratosphaeriaceae (Capnodiales, Dothideomycetes) and is closely related to rock-inhabiting fungal species, as well as to the hyphomycetous lichenicolous fungus Xanthoriicola. Finally, the host-parasite interface has been analyzed by means of transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy in order to describe the interactions among the new fungus and the symbionts forming the host lichen.

Stirtonia byssoidea, S. coei and S. latispora, all from coastal hammocks within Everglades National Park, are described as new to science. Stirtonia byssoidea is characterized by a felty byssoid thallus, conspicuous immersed white pruinose-like lirelliform ascigerous zones, small ascospores and the presence of perlatolic acid. It is closest to S. alba but has a different thallus type and much smaller ascospores. Stirtonia coei is recognized by its lirellate ascigerous zones raised well above a greyish crystallate thallus, large ascospores and a lack of chemistry. It is closest to S. curvata but differs by its I+ blue thallus, strongly raised ascigerous zones and by having no lichen substances. Stirtonia latispora can be identified by its white lirelliform ascigerous areas immersed in a greyish green thallus, large, broad ascospores with a conspicuously enlarged mid cell and lack of substances. It would also key out close to S. curvata but differs by the aforementioned ascigerous zones, an I+ blue thallus, wider ascospores with a different locular configuration and its lack of chemistry. A key to the six species known from the Neotropics is also provided.

In order to confirm and investigate the extent of reported mismatches between chemotypes and molecular sequence data in Bryoria fuscescens s. lat., we examined 15 morphologically similar thalli from each of three Pinus forest sites in the Sistema Central of central Spain. Three thalli were rejected due to infections by Phacopsis huuskonenii (not previously published from Spain). The remaining 42 thalli represented nine ITS rDNA haplotypes and four chemotypes (by TLC): fumarprotocetraric and protocetraric acids; norstictic and connorstictic acids; psoromic acid; and fumarprotocetraric, protocetraric and psoromic acids. The molecular phylogenetic tree was characterized by extremely short branch lengths, often only with a single mutational difference, and a single haplotype could have different chemical products. In some cases, adjacent specimens represented different chemotypes, and three thalli appeared to be mixed individuals. Consistency of both molecular and chemical data within individual specimens was demonstrated by examining four different parts of each thallus, which showed only a difference in the location of psoromic acid in some. This is the first population-level study of this taxon, and so it is premature to propose taxonomic changes at this time. Further populations in different parts of the geographical range of this widespread complex now need to be analyzed, and more sensitive chemical analyses conducted, in order to understand the basis of the variability and determine the appropriate taxonomic treatment.

Conservation organisations are tasked with protection of biodiversity but are challenged by limited resources; consequently, the highest conservation priority species have designations that should correspond with the level of protection needed. In Britain, the saxicolous Calicium corynellum receives the highest conservation priority as a consequence of its rarity, combined with dramatic population declines over the last several decades, having disappeared from 2 of its 4 British sites and declined in one other. However, there is some uncertainty associated with the taxonomic status of the entity referred to as C. corynellum in Britain, partly because its common congener, C. viride has been recorded on trees overhanging several of the populations of C. corynellum, but also because the morphology of British material is very similar to the common C. viride, but found on rock. Standard fungal barcode nr ITS sequences of C. corynellum from both extant British populations of C. corynellum were successfully amplified, along with C. viride from trees overhanging one of the sites and from other British sites. In addition, morphological features were compared among specimens of both taxa. There is no evidence to support the distinction of British C. corynellum from its more common congener, and its conservation status is Britain should be re-evaluated.

Porina rivalis Orange is described as new from rocks in streams in Great Britain. The involucrellum is yellow or orange within, but dark grey to purplish red at the surface; the ascospores are 3-septate, 13·0–18·5×4·0–5·5 μm.

Two new species in the lichen genus Atla, A. alaskana and A. recondita, are described. The ITS rDNA region is used for their molecular characterization. Morphologically, Atla alaskana is characterized by its rather thick and well-developed whitish grey thallus, and the rather large perithecia having a thalline excipulum. The presence of a thalline excipulum renders it similar to Sporodictyon species; however, in A. alaskana a distinct zone around the ostiolum is without a thallus and covered only by a thick white pruina. Atla recondita has a thin olivaceous brown thallus and moderately sized, emerging perithecia. It is not possible to identify this species unequivocally as an Atla species only by morphology, and it might well be mistaken for a Polyblastia. A key to all six Atla species, including the two new species, is provided.

Based on collections focusing on Graphidaceae made in 2012 at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) in Singapore, seven new species are described: Astrochapsa sipmanii, differing from A. astroidea in the olive-brown thallus and thick and coarse apothecial pruina; Fissurina duplomarginata, differing from F. insidiosa by the double margin of the lirellae and the more greenish, rough thallus; Graphis bukittimaensis, differing from G. phaeospora in the erumpent lirellae with lateral thalline margin and the consistently 1-spored asci; G. singaporensis, differing from G. novopalmicola in the much smaller ascospores and in the immersed, densely branched lirellae with thin lateral thalline margin; Ocellularia subudupiensis, differing from O. udupiensis in the presence of three unknown secondary substances and in the comparatively rough thallus surface; O. gueidaniana, characterized by small, transversely septate, hyaline ascospores, prominent, carbonized but ecolumellate apothecia, and two unknown chemical substances resembling metabolites in the stictic acid chemosyndrome; and O. rivasplatana, differing from O. exigua in the larger, broad-pored apothecia with black-rimmed margin and filled with a black-topped columella. Nineteen species are recognized as new records for Singapore. The substantial diversity of Graphidaceae in this reserve suggests that many more taxa are awaiting discovery, even in such a highly urbanized location.

Tremella cetrariicola is shown to be heterogeneous and to represent two phylogenetic sister species, which are shown here to be distinct in the morphology of the galls, basidia and basidiospores, and in their host selection. Tremella cetrariicola s. str. is confined to Tuckermannopsis, whilst the material on Cetrariella delisei is described here as the new Tremella cetrariellae. The new species is known from Finland, Greenland, Norway, Russia, Svalbard, and Sweden.

The species from Cladonia section Unciales are characterized by the absence of squamules and soredia on the corticate podetia and the presence of usnic acid. Different subspecies, varieties and forms have been distinguished in the type species C. uncialis. In this study, a molecular phylogeny of Cladonia uncialis and members of the traditionally recognized section Unciales, along with additional potentially allied species, was constructed. DNA sequences from three gene loci, namely ITS rDNA, IGS rDNA and ß-tubulin, were analyzed using Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood, and Bayesian methods. Eleven species were analyzed for the first time using DNA sequence data. Cladonia uncialis subsp. uncialis and subsp. biuncialis were recognized as distinct taxa. The recognition of C. pseudostellata as a species was not supported by the analyses, but it represents a hypothamnolic acid chemotype, which is reported here as new to Europe (Scotland). The presence of subsp. biuncialis in North America (Newfoundland) was substantiated. The subsp. uncialis usually lacks squamatic acid, but in the eastern United States a morph referred to as subsp. uncialis does normally contain that acid. However, this morph did not attain taxonomic recognition based on phylogenetic analyses. All the other taxa formerly included in sect. Unciales turned out to belong to other groups of Cladonia, mainly Amaurocraeae, Borya, Divaricatae, and Perviae. The formerly recognized genus Cladina (reindeer lichens) is non-monophyletic, consisting of three groups within Cladonia, making the concept Cladina even nomenclaturally useless. Alternative topology tests rejected the monophyly of C. pseudostellata, section Unciales and Cladina.

The Cladonia furcata complex treated here comprises C. farinacea, C. furcata, C. multiformis, C. scabriuscula, C. stereoclada, and C. subrangiformis. The well-known taxonomic complexity of this group is caused by wide phenotypic variation and high morphological similarity among the species, for which reason we investigated the distribution in the phylogeny of the phenotypic characters traditionally used to distinguish the species in this complex. A phylogenetic analysis of the C. furcata complex is presented here, based on three loci (ITS rDNA, IGS rDNA and RPB2), representing specimens from a broad geographical range (Europe, North America and New Zealand). The phylogenetic reconstructions were performed using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses. In addition, 14 features traditionally used for species delimitation within this complex were mapped onto the Bayesian phylogeny. All the species currently accepted, with the exception of C. stereoclada, turned out to be polyphyletic. Most of the phenotypic characters studied are highly homoplasious with the exception of the podetium type. The solid podetia represent a diagnostic character of C. stereoclada.

Eugeniella palleola, Graphis paraschiffneri, and Malmidea cineracea are described from Nicaragua. Eugeniella palleola is characterized by having pale apothecial discs and prominent, white margins, and producing a complex chemistry including atranorin, stictic and norstictic acids, and an unknown substance. Graphis paraschiffneri has lirellae with a lateral thalline margin, striate labia, a completely carbonized excipulum, transversely septate ascospores, and contains norstictic acid in the thallus. Malmidea cineracea is characterized by a granulose-isidiate thallus with a yellowish medulla and a compact, crystal-encrusted excipulum. Malmidea nigromarginata and M. piperina are proposed as new combinations. Keys are presented to all known species of Eugeniella (9) and Malmidea (50).

Recently collected specimens of the crustose lichen Melaspilea demissa from south-eastern USA have been compared with those of Melaspilea spp. previously determined from North America. A review of both the historical and contemporary treatments of this species is provided. A lectotype was selected from the type collection of M. demissa in FH and is here proposed as it best matches incomplete citations in the original treatment. We also discuss the nomenclatural and taxonomic status of the name Opegrapha cymbiformis var. deformis (considered a synonym of M. gibberulosa). North American specimens of M. gibberulosa were found to be misidentifications, as were specimens attributed to M. lentiginosula, M. mesophlebia and M. octomera. We therefore recommend that these species be removed from the North American lichen checklist. We also present a key to North American Melaspilea.

A new corticolous lichen species Ramonia variospora is described from Brazil. It has a verrucose thallus, concave, initally almost closed apothecia and variably 8 or c. 32–64, 1-septate ascospores per ascus; when 8 per ascus, ellipsoid and 16–22×6–10 µm; when c. 32–64 per ascus, broadly ellipsoid and 10–14×6–8 µm. A revised world key is given to all currently known species of Ramonia.

Four new species from Cuba are described in the genus Ocellularia, emphasizing the importance of the Caribbean for the diversification of lichen fungi and the level of unrecognized species richness in Ocellularia. Three of the new species belong in the O. bahiana group: O. coronata Lücking & Pérez-Ortega, differing from O. bahiana by the ridged to folded thallus, vertically ridged apothecia, and complex columella largely covering the disc; O. fuscospora Lücking & Pérez-Ortega, differing from O. urceolaris in the immersed to erumpent, columellate apothecia; and O. radiata Lücking, differing from O. bahiana in the complex, radiating columella filling the disc. In contrast, Ocellularia nigririmis Lücking & Pérez-Ortega is a species of the O. papillata morphodeme with immersed apothecia with a small, black-rimmed pore filled by a greyish black columella, and small ascospores. We also clarify the taxonomy and nomenclature of columellate taxa in the O. bahiana group and provide a key to all thelotremoid Graphidaceae with small, brown, (sub-)muriform ascospores. The new combination Ocellularia lunensis (Nagarkar & Hale) Lücking is proposed.

Analyses of morphological, anatomical, chemical and DNA sequences led to the recognition of ten species of Anzia in the Hengduan Mountains, which harbour all species known from China, including A. pseudocolpota sp. nov. and A. hypomelaena comb. & stat. nov. Furthermore, populations similar to A. hypoleucoides but with narrow lobes and a yellow-orange pigmented medulla may be a phylogenetically distinct species tentatively recognized as A. aff. hypoleucoides. The species are primarily distinguished by the presence or absence of a central axis, the colour and shape of the spongy cushion and the nature of the secondary compounds. A key to all known species of Anzia from China is presented.

The cyanolichen genus Epiphloea is currently included within the Heppiaceae (Lichinomycetes) based on ascus characteristics. The presumed presence of a prototunicate ascus has been used as support for this classification, despite the incongruence with other characters (e.g. spores). Here, we use a molecular phylogeny of the two markers mtSSU rDNA and Mcm7 to investigate the position of Epiphloea. In addition, we have re-investigated the ascus characteristics. Our results place the two species, Epiphloea byssina and E. terrena, within the Collemataceae, nested in Leptogium s. str. The ascus type in both species is shown to be Lecanoralean and similar to the ascus in other Collemataceae, with a strongly amyloid tube-like structure. This observation supports the placement within Lecanoromycetes and refutes the earlier suggested affinities with Heppiaceae and Lichinomycetes. The correct names for these species are Leptogium byssinum and Leptogium terrenum.

The genus Inoderma (Ach.) Gray is lectotypified with Inoderma byssaceum and resurrected for a small group of species in Arthoniaceae with elevated, white pruinose pycnidia, immersed to adnate white pruinose apothecia and a weakly gelatinized hymenium. Inoderma nipponicum is described from Japan, I. afromontanum from Uganda and the European Lecanactis subabietina is transferred to the genus. Sporodophoron is described for a small group of species in Arthoniaceae related to Inoderma but with a unique type of sporodochia instead of pycnidia. Sterile specimens of this new genus resemble species of Tylophoron but differ in the rounded angular to elliptical to short cylindrical, 0–2-septate sporodochial conidia with unevenly thickened walls which are formed apically in zigzag-shaped and occasionally branched chains. Sporodophoron further differs in thallus chemistry and is genetically distinct. Tylophoron americanum and Schismatomma cretaceum are transferred to Sporodophoron, and the new species S. gossypinum from Japan and S. primorskiense from eastern Russia are described. The genus Glomerulophoron is described for a single species from Mauritius, G. mauritiae, differing from Sporodophoron in the tightly coiled chains of sporodochial conidia and being genetically distinct. A phylogenetic tree showing the position of Inoderma, Sporodophoron and Glomerulophoron in Arthoniaceae is presented. A key to all species of Arthoniaceae with sporodochia or elevated white pruinose pycnidia is presented. Arthothelium spectabile, the type of the large heterogeneous genus Arthothelium, is confirmed for the cryptothecioid subclade in Arthoniaceae.

Bulbothrix johannis is described as new to science. The species is morphologically similar to the South American Bulbothrix pseudofungicola Benatti & Marcelli but has wider lobes, laminal ciliate isidia which frequently develop into phyllidia, larger cilia and rhizines, and longer ascospores. This epiphytic species occurs fairly frequently in the cloud forests and montane thickets on Réunion Island (Mascarene archipelago). The comparison of B. johannis with morphologically and chemically similar species shows that several different African taxa are currently grouped under the widely used but problematic name B. suffixa (Stirt.) Hale.

Lobarina scrobiculata (better known as Lobaria scrobiculata) is a widespread lichen, threatened and Red-Listed in various European countries. Microsatellite markers for the mycobiont of L. scrobiculata were developed in order to investigate its genetic diversity in the Iberian Peninsula and Europe and to design effective conservation strategies. A total of 7 polymorphic markers were isolated and characterized. These microsatellites were tested in natural populations found in the Iberian Peninsula. The number of observed alleles ranged from 3 to 8, and the Nei's unbiased gene diversity from 0·26 to 0·59. These microsatellite markers are the first to be developed for L. scrobiculata and they will be useful for population studies and for the assessment of the conservation status of this species.