New lichen records and rediscoveries from the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Despite over two centuries of fairly intensive study, the lichen flora of Central European countries is still incompletely known. Based on revision of herbarium material and new field work, we report thirty-four species from the Czech Republic for the first time, and twenty-two from Slovakia. Caloplaca brachyspora, Micarea confuse and Sclerophora amabilis are new to Central Europe. Caloplaca alaskensis is reported outside the Arctic for the first time. Other noteworthy records worth of mention are e.g. Arthonia incarnate, Bacidina etayana, Biatora pontica, Bryoria furcellata, Candelariella lutella, C. viae-lactae, Metamelanea caesiella, Peccania cernohorskyi, Rhizoplaca melanophthahna, Thelocarpon imperceptum,Verrucaria ulmi and Xanthoria papillifera. Eight species (mainly from lowland forests) have not been found over 70 or more years from the territory of the Czech Republic or Slovakia. Four species were reported in the past but were omitted from the current national checklists. Other species new to the explored countries are Bacidia pycnidiata, Bacidina brandii, B. saxenii, B. sulphurella, Buellia arborea, Caloplaca arcis, C. dichroa, C. tominii, C. xerica, Candelaria pacifica, Candelariella plumbea, Catillaria fungoides, Cladonia novochlorophaea, Collolechia caesia, Dendrographa decolorans, Fellhanera viridisorediata, Lecania sordida, Lecidea sphaerella, L. strasseri, Lecidella albida, Leptogium intermedium, Micarea globulosella, M nowakii, Normandina acroglypta, Peltigera extenuate, Reichlingia leopoldii, Rhizocarpon timdalii, Rhizoplaca subdiscrepans, Rinodina capensis, Schismatomma umbrinum, Sclerococcum griseisporodochium, Thelocarpon citrum, Verrucaria beltraminiana, V breussii, V fuscovelutina, V phloeophila, and Xylographa pallens. ITS rDNA was used to confirm the identity of Caloplaca alaskensis and C. arcis. The lichen diversity of Central European countries and their phytogeographical connections are briefly discussed.