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Lecanoras. lat. is a genus of crustose, rarely placodioid lichens comprisingc. 1000 recognized species and subdivided into several morphology-based groups. Some of these groups have been supported in phylogenetic analyses and segregated as new genera. One of the remaining groups that has not been previously studied by molecular methods in much detail, theL. saligna-group, includes corticolous and lignicolous crustose lichens, usually containing isousnic or usnic acid (or both) as major secondary metabolites. As part of our ongoing project ‘Lecanomics’, a phylogenetic analysis based on two loci was conducted and found theL. saligna-group to be divided into two main clades and several well-supported minor clades. TheL. variaclade, chosen as one of the outgroups, emerged within theL. saligna-group. The majority of the clades are characterized by phenotypic differences. However, several well-supported clades share similarities with their sister groups, suggesting that species circumscriptions based solely on phenotypic characters may be too conservative to characterize the true species diversity present within the group. Also, there is evidence for some geographical separation of lineages; for example, most North American individuals, previously known asLecanora salignaandL. albellula, form two clades separate from their European namesakes and are here preliminarily called ‘Lecanorasp. B’, ‘Lecanorasp. C’ and ‘Lecanorasp. D’. However,L. salignaandL. albellulaalso appear to occur in North America, and some specimens from the Caucasus and Iran cluster within the North American clades.Lecanora anoptaandL. subravidaare reported for the first time from Iran.

Eleven new for science species of lichen-forming fungi, i.e.: Amandinea pseudomultispora, Buellia chujadoensis, Fuscidea coreana, F. extremorientalis, Hafellia extremorientalis, H. pseudosubnexa, Halecania subalpivaga, Lecanactis subdilleniana, Lecania chirisanensis, Maronella coreana, and Melanophloea coreana are described, illustrated and compared with closely related taxa. Amandinea polyspora, Catillaria nigroclavata, Ivanpisutia oxneri, Lecanora saligna, L. sambuci, and Lecidella mandshurica are proved to be new to Korea.

The new lichen species Lecanora crassithallina, characterized by a thick, areolate thallus and abundant macropycnidia with short, bacilliform macroconidia, is described from northern Mexico. The new species belongs to the Lecanora saligna group and is most related to L. albellula, L. coniferarum and L saligna.

In this study forty six epiphytic lichen species were found on Uludag fir from five localities within an altitudinal range o f 1500-1900 m in the Abietum zone on Mt. Uludag and were recorded. The most common species were Bryoria capillaris, B. fuscescens, Caloplaca herbidella, Hypogymnia tubulosa, Lecanora saligna, Parmelia sulcata, Phlyctis argena, and Pseudevernia fufuracea. The results indicate that the distribution and species composition o f epiphytic lichens was related to altitude. Bacidia globulosa, Evernia prunastri, Phlyctis argena, Ramalina farinacea, Rinodina capensis, Usnea glabrescens and U. rigida were the characteristic species at 1500-1600 m. Arthonia mediella, Bryoria fuscescens, B. implexa, Buellia disciformis, B. griseovirens, Caloplaca herbidella, Lecanora saligna and Parmeliopsis ambigua were the characteristic species at 1700-1900 m. Altitude is one o f the main factors controlling the diversity and distribution o f epiphytic lichens on Uludag fir on Mt. Uludag.