Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological studies have shown that it is necessary to revise the present morphology-based generic delineation of the lichen family Verrucariaceae in order to account for evolutionary relatedness between species. Consequently, several genera were recently described or resurrected, and others were re-circumscribed. As an additional step toward this generic revision, three new genera (Hydropunctaria, Parabagliettoa, Wahlenbergiella) and eleven new combinations are proposed here. A summary of the current taxonomic and morphological circumscription of all genera investigated so far is also presented. Several monophyletic groups are identified for which further taxonomical changes will be required, but for which taxon and gene sampling is presently viewed as insufficient. Clear morphological synapomorphies were found to be rare for newly delimited genera. In some cases (reduced morphology or plesiomorphism), even the combinations of slightly homoplasious phenotypic characters do not allow a clear morphological generic circumscription. Molecular features are envisioned as characters for delimiting these taxa.

Umbilicaria iberica and U. maculata are described as new to science on the basis of morphological and molecular data. Umbilicaria iberica is similar to U. polyphylla but differs in having a monophyllous thallus with a distinctive white reticular pattern over the umbilicus and actinodisc apothecia. Umbilicaria maculata is similar to U. cylindrica but this new species is distinguished by its grey-brown thallus with sparse marginal cilia and white stains on the upper surface especially in the marginal zone, as well as by sessile apothecia with one or a few sterile fissures. Nuclear ITS and LSU rDNA have been used as molecular markers. In the phylogenetic analysis U. polyphylla falls into two well supported clades (A and B), one of which corresponds to the morphotype that is described here as a new taxon. Specimens previously recognized as U. cylindrica fall into three well supported clades: clade C corresponds to the typical morphotype, clade D corresponds to morphotype II described here as a new taxon, and clade E is morphotype III which is recognized as U. cf. umbilicarioides. Typical group I introns have been found in position 1506 of the nuclear SSU rDNA of Umbilicaria; a consensus secondary structure of these introns is presented and we conclude that they represent an important and valuable molecular marker which gives additional support to the ITS and LSU sequence phylogeny obtained.

Ten freshwater lichen species from the Beskid Sądecki Mts are presented. Seven of them: Hydropunctaria rheitrophila, Thelidium aquaticum, T. minutulum, T. zwackhii, Verrucaria dolosa, V. elaeomelaena and V. submersella, are new to the region. Three species: Verrucaria elaeina, V. hydrophila and V. latebrosa, were previously known from single localities.

No abstract