Leptogium insigne has been discovered in andine parts of Ecuador, far away from its type locality in coastal Oregon, USA. Its generic position is reevaluated and Arctomia borbonica is found to be a synonym, and indeed the species belongs in the Arctomiaceae where further studies are necessary to establish the generic structure. The distribution pattern is unusual being closest to that of the circumpacific Leioderma sorediatum, though not yet found in Southeast Asia and New Zealand. It appears to be an ancient element in the mycota in this region, probably originating in Gondwanaland.