Descriptions are given of two little-known species of Brigantiaea (Lecanorales, Brigantiaeaceae) which are widely distributed in New Zealand. Brigantiaea lobulata F. J. Walker & Hafellner sp. nov. is described and the following new combinations are proposed: B. tabacodes (Zahlbr.), B. nipponica (Sato) and B. austroamericana (Räsänen), combs. nov.

Morphogenesis of podetia in Cladonia subcervicornis is a non-linear, repeating process based upon a pattern of meristem enlargement and division. Variability in mature podetia of C. subcervicornis, which may appear branched or scyphoid, is the result of variation early in ontogeny. The growth pattern of C. subcervicornis represents a continuum of developmental stages. It is impossible to predict the form of the mature thallus of C. subcervicornis because growth in this species is fluid. The morphology of the mature thallus of C. subcervicornis is difficult to circumscribe using conventional Cladonia terminology, because the processes that form the thallus are dynamic and heterogeneous. The meristem shapes that are produced during early ontogeny in C. subcervicornis are relatively simple, and the processes by which they are formed are uncomplicated. Yet podetial form in C.subcercicornis is difficult to interpret.

During a field trip to the highlands of Mount Meru in Tanzania, two Placopsis specimens were collected. Morphological analyses showed a unique combination of characters not observed in any other published taxa within the genus. The specimens are characterized by their circular soralia, not confluent, crater-shaped, with a prominent white margin and coarse granular pinkish central soredia. Considering the morphological, geographical and genetic data, we propose the designation of a new species, Placopsis craterifera Boluda sp. nov.

The distribution of many Arctic lichens is well known but their place and time of origin is still conjectural. Land bridges are often suggested but continental drift suggests a possible tie to Gondwanaland and Pangaea. This review suggests consideration of the available evidence for such ideas and emphasizes the need for more exact data from molecular studies of living and amber materials to determine the antiquity of the lichen species involved.

Amandinea myrticola is described as new from Portugal. This corticolous species is characterized by the thin, smooth to minutely rugose and greyish thallus lacking secondary metabolites, the small lecideine apothecia which exhibit a pseudothalline margin when young and the small, smooth, Physconia-type ascospores with strongly pronounced and persistent median wall thickenings. It occurs on smooth bark in two localities characterized by a Mediterranean climate with an Atlantic influence.