The new lichenicolous fungus Capronia suijae growing on the thallus of corticolous Xanthoria parietina is described from Belarus and compared with similar species. In addition to its host selection, the species is characterized by comparatively small ascomata, 40–80 μm diam., and (0–1–)3-septate ascospores, 9·5–11·5×4·0–5·0 μm. A key to the lichenicolous fungi growing on Xanthoria s. str. is provided.

Detailed morphological and anatomical studies informed by molecular inferences with mtSSU as a marker revealed two new species of Micarea in Western Europe, both belonging to the core group of the genus, namely the M. prasina group: M. herbarum from the Netherlands and Poland and M. meridionalis from Portugal and Italy. Micarea herbarum looks like a small or depauperate M. denigrata but clearly differs by the lack of gyrophoric acid, while M. meridionalis is distinguished by its granular thallus and the production of micareic acid.

Four new species of Verrucaria are described from calcareous rocks in Finland based on morphology and ITS sequences. Verrucaria lapponica sp. nov. differs from V. cincta by the smaller perithecia, thinner periphysoids and occasional occurrence of pale exciple walls. Verrucaria sublapponica sp. nov. is related to V. lapponica but differs by a shorter involucrellum and larger spores. Verrucaria saanaensis sp. nov. differs from V. nuoljae (H. Magn.) comb. ined. by having larger spores and a fimbriate prothallus. Verrucaria othmarbreussii sp. nov. is closely related to V. tenebrica, but differs by the paler and thinner, less areolate thallus. The four species belong to the Staurothele group based on the BLAST search and the ITS phylogeny. All four species are rare in Finland and all except V. othmarbreussii seem to have a narrow ecogeographical niche on calcareous mountains above the tree line. Lichens restricted to these habitats may be especially sensitive to climate warming.

Most lichen-forming fungi are characterized by the production of secondary metabolites. Differences in metabolite patterns have frequently served to distinguish lichen taxa with subsequent controversies about the rank of chemical variants (chemotype, variety, subspecies or species). Using a model system, we investigate whether production of norstictic acid within a group of lichenized ascomycetes is correlated with phylogenetic patterns, population differentiation or single and multi-locus haplotypes. Our study is based on DNA sequences of three gene loci (ITS, GPD, mtLSU) together with HPLC (311) and TLC (594) data from a total of 594 samples of three closely related fruticose lichens: Cetraria aculeata and C. muricata without norstictic acid, and C. steppae with norstictic acid. In nature, C. aculeata and C. steppae often occur together and the status of C. steppae as a separate species has been questioned. Our results show geographical but no phylogenetic structure of norstictic acid production and few significant associations between genetic clusters and the occurrence of norstictic acid. All frequently distributed haplotypes display differences in norstictic acid content. The few associations at the population level are most likely a by-product of spatial genetic structure, because norstictic acid was expressed only in individuals from the Mediterranean-Central Asian part of the study area. We conclude that the production of norstictic acid in the C. aculeata group is most likely triggered by the environment (climate, edaphic factors, associated symbionts). Cetraria steppae might be a different evolutionary lineage restricted to warm temperate regions but it is not uniquely characterized by the presence of norstictic acid.

The new species Austrella isidioidea, which is unique in the genus in having isidioid structures on the thallus lobe ends as well as apothecia lacking a thalline margin, is described from the Falkland Islands. A collection with an identical mtSSU rDNA sequence to A. arachnoidea but with significant morphological differences (viz. a variable apothecial margin ranging from an arachnoid hyphal weft to a corticated regular margin) is reported from Îles Kerguelen. The phylogenetic and biogeographical implications of these new records are discussed.

The lichen genus Ochrolechia found in China is revised. Twenty taxa are accepted in the genus, including four described as new to science: Ochrolechia alticola, differing from O. mexicana by the larger ascospores and the absence of lichexanthone, and from O. africana by the C+ red reaction of the apothecial margin cortex, the absence of 5-O-methylhiascic acid, and its alpine habitat; O. lijiangensis, differing from O. longispora by the larger apothecia and smaller ascospores, and by the presence of an additional undetermined fatty acid; O. longispora, differing from O. trochophora by the larger ascospores and the presence of two fatty acids; and O. rugomarginata, differing from O. pallescens in the minutely verruculose margins of the mature apothecia, the absence of variolaric acid and the C+ red thallus cortex, and from O. trochophora var. trochophora by the presence of alectoronic acid in the apothecial medulla, the coarsely pruinose disc and a preference for the bark of coniferous trees. Four new taxa are reported for China: Ochrolechia arborea, O. mahluensis, O. szatalaënsis and O. trochophora var. pruinirosella. An identification key to all taxa in the genus known from China is provided.

The new corticolous lichen fungus Platythecium seychellense is described from the Seychelles. Morphological characters as well as distribution and resemblance to related species are discussed. The species is characterized by a crustose, grey-green, smooth thallus lacking lichen substances, elongate and slender apothecia having flat, red-brown discs and grey 3-septate ascospores. A world key to all currently known species in the genus is presented.

A new Arthothelium species, A. hymeniicola in the apothecia of an unidentified Bacidia sp., is described from Campbell Island, New Zealand. The new species is remarkable, not only by being the first lichenicolous Arthothelium species, but also by being an endohymenial fungus not forming ascomatal structures. Previously, no Arthoniaceae species were reported as parasitic from Bacidia spp. However, both generic and family placements are tentative and the possibility of a placement in the Cookellaceae is also discussed. Differences between Arthoniaceae and Cookellaceae, and the generic delimitations within them, are generally based on the structures of the fruiting bodies, rendering the taxonomic placement of the new species challenging without molecular data; neither fruiting bodies nor molecular data are available for the new species and the Cookellaceae.