Multilocus Molecular Phylogeny of the Group (Umbilicariaceae, Lichenized Ascomycota) Supports Species Level and Neo-Endemic Status of .

The Northeast Asian endemic species of lichen-forming fungus is herein discussed in the global context of biogeography and phylogeny of the group. The name has been erroneously used by lichenologists for spp. from high latitudes or altitudes worldwide, as there are omphalodisc apothecia and rough "crystals" of a necral layer on the upper surface.

Convergent evolution of a symbiotic duet: the case of the lichen genus Polychidium (Peltigerales, Ascomycota).

Premise Of The Study: Thallus architecture has long been a powerful guide for classifying lichens and has often trumped photobiont association and ascomatal type, but the reliability of these characters to predict phylogenetic affinity has seldom been tested. The cyanolichen genus Polychidium unites species that have strikingly similar gross morphology but consort with different photobiont genera. If Polychidium were found to be monophyletic, photobiont switching among closely related species would be suggested.