The genus Lecanactis, with 24 species, has been phylogenetically analysed using cladistic parsimony methods and support tests. Morphological, anatomical and chemical data were used, comprising 38 characters. Twelve equally most parsimonious trees were obtained. The successive approximations character weighting method gave one most parsimonious tree. The ingroup, Lecanactis, is supported as monophyletic. Although parsimony jackknifing and Bremer support indicate that the trees are poorly supported, some groups are wholly or partly distinguished in both the strict consensus tree, the successive weighting tree and the Jac tree.

Protoparmelia hypotremella van Herk, Spier & Wirth, a sterile corticolous lichen, is described as a species new to science, so far known from Austria, SW Germany and the Netherlands. It is rapidly spreading in Germany and the Netherlands. It is apparently close to P. oleagina, and is often found growing together with that species on oak trees along roads in the Netherlands. Both species are host to the lichenicolous fungi Sphinctrina anglica and Tremella wirthii.

Xanthoria poeltii, a new species combining characters of X. candelaria and X. ulophyllodes from Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Hungary, is described and illustrated. Comments about its differences from related taxa are provided.

Two new species of Xanthoria are described and illustrated, and comments about their differences from related taxa are provided. These are: X. ascendens from bark and shrub remains in sea-shore sand dunes and hillsides in Argentina, Chile and Peru, and X. ucrainica, from bark, stones, and some man-made substrata in the Ukraine, Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Asian Russia.

Ramalina panizzei De Not. is reported from Switzerland and north of the Alps for the first time. Recent collections and thalli found amongst specimens of R. fastigiata (Pers.) Ach. are described; the species is obviously not restricted to the Mediterranean. The confusion in several herbaria around this and related corticolous species, particularly R. subgeniculata Nyl. and R. fastigiata, can be traced back to imprecise original and subsequent diagnoses, all of which lack a clear species delimitation. Similarities and differences of these species are discussed. In addition, sequences from the rDNA ITS regions were determined for two individuals of R. panizzei and two of R. fastigiata, including one of each from a site where both species grow intermixed. Kimura 2-parameter genetic-distance estimates indicate that R. panizzei and R. fastigiata are as different from each other as either is from the reference species R. siliquosa (Hudson) A. L. Sm. s.l. A broad-based taxonomic revision of involved species is not possible due to the limited number of analyses, but the results demonstrate the potential for using DNA sequence data to investigate species-level questions in lichens. Based on morphology, chemistry, and DNA sequence data, R. panizzei is retained as a distinct species.

Usnea longissima was sampled in SE Norway on six main branches of one Picea abies, comprising its full vertical canopy range. Nearly all specimens (n = 781) were unattached and fragmented, in contrast with associated lichens. A combination of weak axes and lack of holdfasts resulted in a population of repeatedly displaced thalli, a similar situation as in ground-dwelling vagant lichens. Comparisons with a litterfall population indicated that thalli, regardless of size, had a similar probability to end as litter on the ground. Specimens were frequently sorediate, but only 12 small thalli with a basal holdfast had been directly recruited through soredial establishment. Its patchy distribution within apparently homogenous forest stands is probably a consequence of a rare successful long-range dispersal through soredia coupled with an abundant local dispersal of coarse thallus fragments. Old forests with ample, diffuse skylight at lower and humid canopy levels are probably essential to maintain a vagant epiphytic life form with a predominantly downward dispersal of thallus fragments.

Galactomannans were isolated from Cladonia signata, C. furcata, C. imperialis, and C. clathrata via successive alkaline extraction and precipitation with Fehling solution and Cetavlon. They were investigated using ⊃13C-NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and Smith degradation, and their specific rotations and monosaccharide compositions determined. As with galactomannans of other Cladonia species, they contained (l →6)-linked main chains of α-mannopyranose, which were non-substituted (structure 4 in Fig. 2), monosubstituted at O-2 with α-mannopyranose (structure 6) or α-galactopyranose (structure 1), O-4 with β-galactopyranose (structure 2), and disubstituted at O-2 and O-4 with α-mannopyranosyl and β-galactopyranosyl units, respectively (structure 5). Disubstitution was present to a greater extent in the galactomannans of C. clathrata and C. imperialis than in those of C. signata and C. furcata. In the case of the galactomannans of C. furcata, C. clathrata, and C. imperialis, substitution also occurred at O-2 with O-β-galactofuranosyl-(l→6)-O-α-mannopyranosyl units (structure 7). As observed in previous investigations, the C-l portion of the ⊃13C-NMR of mannose-containing polysaccharides is typical of the lichen species. However, those of galactomannans of C. imperialis and C. clathrata are almost identical and, although other chemical data showed many structures in common, some differences were evident.