Leprocaulon beechingii is described as new to science based on collections from exposed rock outcrops in the southern Appalachian Mountains in eastern North America. Taxonomic placement in Leprocaulon, and delimitation from other members of the genus with usnic acid, is supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses of ITS and mtSSU sequence data. The species is readily recognized by its occurrence on non-calcareous rocks, normandinoides-type placodioid thallus, and the production of usnic acid and zeorin.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of newly generated sequences from North American material belonging to the Acarospora glaucocarpa group recovered these sequences in a previously unrecognized clade sister to European members of the group. North American material is recognized as a distinct clade, named the “Sarcogyne canadensis–wheeleri clade,” and its constituent species are described. Four new calciphytes from North America are described from the clade: S. alcesensis, S. bernardinensis, S. convexa and S. wheeleri. Sarcogyne wheeleri is the taxon North American lichenologists usually identified as A. glaucocarpa. Acarospora canadensis was recovered in the clade and is revised and transferred to Sarcogyne. A neotype is designated for A. glaucocarpa. We transfer S. bolleana, a rare species described from Texas, to Acarospora and do not consider it a synonym of S. arenosa. We do not recognize A. glaucocarpa s.str. as occurring in continental North America. We supply a key to the S. canadensis-wheeleri clade. Currently we report 102 species of Acarosporaceae from North America.

Rinodina lecideopsis is described as new to science. The species is characterized by the lecideine appearance of its apothecia due to the darkly pigmented cortex of the thalline margin and by a broad, hyaline proper exciple, which limits the algae to a narrow region at the base of the margin. The hymenium is densely inspersed with oil droplets and the spores are Bischoffii-type, both characters indicating a relationship with R. bischoffii. The new species belongs to a group of ecologically similar saxicolous lichens restricted to outcrops in tallgrass prairies, and glade openings in savannas and woodlands, fire-adapted ecosystems of the central United States. The biogeography and conservation needs of these lichens is briefly discussed.

Bacidia thiersiana is described as new to science from scattered locations throughout southeastern North America, including the southern Appalachian Mountains and Coastal Plain. The species is characterized by its frequent occurrence on and near thalli of Bathelium carolinianum, minutely areolate, esorediate thallus with small, pale to tan, biatorine apothecia and the production of lobaric acid. In addition to comparison with other morphologically similar species that produce lobaric acid and other fluorescent secondary compounds, Bacidina crystallifera is discussed and illustrated in detail.

Vietnamiella epiphytica gen. et sp. nov. is described based on the results of integrative research including morphological, ecological, phytogeographical and molecular-genetic studies. Superficially the new taxon is similar to some taxa of Andrewsianthus from which, however, it differs in a number of features including ventral intercalary branching, versus dorsal intercalary branches that commonly change into positively geotropic stolons in Andrewsianthus. Moreover, the closest relative of Vietnamiella, placed in Anastrophyllaceae, was found to be Hattoria, which is strikingly different from Vietnamiella, especially in its entire and cup-shaped leaves. The morphological description, figures and differentiations are provided for Vietnamiella.

Forested wetlands are ecologically and economically important, but many are poorly understood. A robust inventory of species is important for sound management in these ecosystems, particularly ones that include cryptogams such as arboreal lichens, which are rich and abundant in forested wetlands. On the island of Newfoundland, Canada, little is known about what lichens are found in forested wetlands, how lichen communities interact with different forested wetlands, or whether there are lichens unique to forested wetlands. Therefore, we investigated the potential for macrolichens to act as indicators of forested bog, fen and swamp wetland classes in four regions. We counted macrolichen thalli, by species, on the lower bole of black spruce (Picea mariana) trees within plots from each forested wetland class in each region. We also collected data on habitat characteristics in each wetland: soil pH, canopy closure, and ground and shrub cover, all of which differed significantly among forested wetland classes. Macrolichen communities differed among regions and forested wetland classes but the greatest differences were among regions. We also attempted to identify reliable macrolichen indicator species for forested wetland classes and regions but were unsuccessful. A lichen of conservation concern, Erioderma pedicellatum (Hue) P.M.Jørg., was detected in some of our forested wetland sites, highlighting the importance of proper management of these unique habitats.

During ecological studies on corticolous lichens in Restinga vegetation in northeastern Brazil, many species of crustose Caliciaceae formerly placed in the collective genus Buellia s.l. were collected. A new species was discovered and is described here—Gassicurtia restingiana D.S.Andrade, M.Cáceres & Aptroot differs from G. catasema in the absence of lichexanthone. Two identification keys are provided, one for all species of Gassicurtia known from Brazil, and one for crustose, epiphytic, non-mazaediate species of Caliciaceae found in Restinga areas in northeastern Brazil.

In this paper, we present high-resolution, contiguous plant macrofossil records taken from two glacial cirque mountain wetland ecosystems located in the subalpine zone of the Eastern Carpathians. We provide 1) a detailed reconstruction of plant succession from mountain peatland ecosystems; 2) a possible scenario of Holocene paleohydrological changes; 3) the presence of rare plants presently considered glacial relicts, e.g. Meesia triquetra; and 4) the peat forming potential of certain plants at altitudes above 1800 m a.s.l. At Gărgălău, a gradual decrease of water level and isolation from ground water influence approximately 7000 cal yr BP trigged the colonization of minerotrophic Sphagnum species (S. teres, S. centrale and S. subsecundum). The decline of Sphagnum subsecundum ca. 3000 cal yr BP was most likely caused by an increase of water level and competiton with Sarmentypnum sarmentosum populations. In the Late Holocene, ca. 2000 cal yr BP, Selaginella selaginoides expansion was recorded, followed by the reappearance of Sphagnum populations, most likely due to a lowering of the water table. The Gropile ecosystem transformed from a shallow lake into peatland at ca. 4200 cal yr BP. The temporary presence of Warnstorfia exannulata in peat sediments ca. 2300, 1600, 1300–1200, and 700–600 cal yr BP may indicate an increase of water level and very wet habitat, or the presence of small ponds. Paleohydrological changes only partly agree at both studied wetlands, suggesting the importance of local climatic and morphological conditions on past vegetation development. According to our paleoecological data, Straminergon stramineum indicates wet stages in peatlands and cannot be considered a high peat-forming species in subalpine zones in European mountain ranges. Projected warm and dry conditions may trigger mountain peatland water tables in Eastern Carpathians to decline, potentially resulting in the expansion of moss species that demand more acidic and drier habitats, e.g. Sphagnum russowii.