Fungal spores are morphologically highly diverse and are therefore frequently used as diagnostic characters in taxonomy. However, the connection between spore morphology and fungal ecology remains poorly understood. Using phylogenetic comparative analyses, we investigated the putative relationships between four ascospore traits and the dominant place of infection, host ecology, and host taxonomic placement in 123 species of biotrophic parasites of bryophytes. Ascospore shape, ornamentation height and relative lipid content are significantly correlated in bryophilous Pezizales. Species attached by their hyphae to bryophyte rhizoids have more globose ascospores with higher ornamentation and relative lipid content than species attached to aboveground organs. Furthermore, some ascospore traits are significantly associated with host lifespan, habitat preferences, and taxonomic placement of their host bryophytes. Our results suggest that the ascospore morphology in this fungal group is closely linked to its ecology and several of the detected relationships point to the existence of distinct dispersal strategies.

The diversity and abundance of bryophytes in the vegetation of wetlands is significant but the habitats are understudied in the Greek mountains. This paper provides new data on bryophytes in mountain wetland habitats and at woodland edges recorded as new or reconfirmed occurrences in the administrative regions of Epirus, West Macedonia, Central Macedonia, and Central Greece. Scorpidium cossonii and Sphagnum russowii were found new to Greece. Most of the species belong to northern and high-altitude floristic elements and were encountered in moderately acidic fens, base-rich fens, flushes, nutrient-poor pools, wet meadows, mountain heaths and tall-forb vegetation. Many of the encountered species characterize Annex I habitats of the EU Habitats Directive, specifically 7230 'Alkaline fens', 7220 'Petrifying springs with tufa formation (Cratoneurion)', 7140 'Transition mires and quaking bogs', 6430 'Hydrophilous tall herb fringe communities of plains and of the montane to alpine levels', 4060 'Alpine and boreal heaths', and 3160 'Natural dystrophic lakes and ponds'.

Octospora entosthodontophila, a new smooth-spored bryophilous ascomycete on Entosthodon spp., is described and illustrated based on several collections from Hungary and Spain. The new species infects various species of the terricolous moss genus Entosthodon (Funariaceae). It is one of the first bryoparasitic Pezizales where molecular data confirmed the broader host spectrum. The newly described species is characterized by orange apothecia with a conspicuous membranaceous slightly fimbriate margin, narrowly ellipsoid to subfusiform smooth ascospores with two large and several small lipid bodies. A comparison with similar Octospora species and taxa infecting other members of the moss family Funariaceae is also provided. A phylogenetic analysis using ITS, LSU, SSU, and EF1-alpha sequences revealed that O. entosthodontophila forms a monophyletic group with O. excipulata, a taxon also infecting various members of the Funariaceae.

Lamprospora aberrans is described as a new species based on collections from Spain (Community of Madrid and the island of Mallorca) and Croatia (Paklenica NP). It is unique due to the combination of globose ascospores ornamented with bent ridges, as well as stiff, thick-walled hyaline hairs - the latter feature unknown in the genus Lamprospora so far. It is the first species of bryophilous Pezizales known to infect mosses from the genus Gymnostomum (Pottiaceae, Pottiales). In the Bayesian analysis of LSU, SSU and EF1-a loci it clustered in a well-supported clade with L. cailletii, L. tuberculatella agg., L. benkertii and L. paechnatzii. The role of the hairs in the taxonomy of bryophilous Pezizales is discussed.

The ascomycete Belonium coroniforme Rehm (Helotiales) forms both orange apothecia and apothecia-like conidiomata (sporodochia) on corticolous moss species of the genera Lewinskya, Orthotrichum and (Rota (Orthotrichales), as well as Leucodon (Hypnales). Both the apothecia and the sporodochia are restricted to the female shoot apices (perichaetia), producing a compact mycelial wedge within the host stems. The fungal morphs can occur together or separately on shoot apices of the same or different plants. Infection prevents the normal development of sporophytes, which means that capsules with mature spores are not produced, thus reducing the host's fertility. In contrast, except for the infected shoot apices, the gametophytic plants retain their green healthy appearance and continue to grow by subapical innovation. Belonium coroniforme is sporadically documented in Europe and also occurs in Nepal and Tunisia. Apart from having a hyphomycetous anamorph, it is characterized by a clear preference for orthotrichalean mosses and by occupying a distinct microniche. This high specialization has never been observed in muscicolous apothecial ascomycetes before. Sequence data from eight different collections taken from five different host species did not reveal any variation within the ITS1, ITS2 and LSU region of the rDNA, with inconclusive generic placement. Isolation attempts of the fungus from infected moss parts and ascospore germination experiments were not successful on standard malt-extract agar medium, strongly suggesting an obligate biotrophic lifestyle. The aim of this article is to present a comprehensive description of B. coroniforme and its host-parasite relationship as well as to provide initial genetic resources for the species.

The present work lists 2051 lichens, 520 lichenicolous and 55 allied fungi, altogether 2626 taxa and their synonyms, whose occurrence has been reported from the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany by the end of 2021. The list is based on the last species list published in 2011 and comprises 326 new records as well as 428 nomenclatural changes published in 253 publications between 2012 and 2021. The list also includes 114 taxa, mostly from the Verrucariaceae, whose status is still considered problematic.

The bryophilous ascomycete Octospora meslinii is a rarely reported species growing exclusively in cushions of the saxicolous moss Grimmia pulvinata. The taxon has been misunderstood in the past and hitherto reliably only reported from France and Germany. Many recent collections from Hungary have made it possible to get a better understanding of O. meslinii, which is comprehensively described and illustrated in this paper. Because of the lack of original material, we designate an illustration in the protologue as the lectotype and one of the recent collections as the epitype of this fungus. Octospora meslinii is compared with other species of Octospora growing in the same type of habitat or having similar ascospores. The most closely related species to O. meslinii is O. pseudoampezzana. Both share apothecia with blackish pigmentation, a unique feature compared to bryophilous Pezizales as a whole, ellipsoid ascospores ornamented with isolated warts, moss hosts in the family Grimmiaceae, and the infection inducing galls on the rhizoids. A phylogenetic analysis using the EF1 , LSU and SSU rDNA loci confirms our morphological findings showing that O. meslinii forms a monophyletic clade with O. pseudoampezzana, whereas other species with which O. meslinii was confused in the past, e.g. O. similis, are related only distantly.

In den Jahren 2010/2011 erfolgte die Überprüfung der aktuellen sowie der aus der Literatur bekannten und zumindest noch als potenziell vorhanden eingestuften Fundorte der Pflanzenarten der Anhänge II und IV in Sachsen-Anhalt. Dabei konnten folgende Arten bestätigt werden: Angelica palustris, Apium repens, Cypripedium calceolus, Jurinea cyanoides, Liparis loeselii und Orthotrichum rogeri. Da trotz Nichtbestätigung ab ca. 2000 die Standortbedingungen an den alten Fundstellen von Coleanthus subtilis und Lindernia procumbens deren Ansprüchen entsprachen, wurden auch diese beiden Arten in das regelmäßige Monitoring aufgenommen, ebenso wie Luronium natans, der letztmalig 2005 gefunden wurde. Aufgrund von Neufunden bzw. Verifizierungen kamen nach 2012 außerdem Buxbaumia viridis, Hamatocaulis vernicosus und Mannia triandra hinzu. Insgesamt zeigt sich allein hinsichtlich der besetzten Fundorte ein überwiegend negativer Trend der Bestandsentwicklung: Luronium natans und Coleanthus subtilis konnten überhaupt nicht nachgewiesen werden und wurden in der aktuellen Roten Liste Sachsen-Anhalts als ‚ausgestorben bzw. verschollen’ erfasst. Lindernia procumbens konnte nur in einem der elf Untersuchungsjahre bestätigt werden. Die ursprünglich drei Fundorte von Angelica palustris und der eine Fundort von Apium repens sind seit 2021 bzw. 2022 nicht mehr besetzt. Von den ehemals fünf Vorkommen von Liparis loeselii sind 2022 nur noch drei vorhanden. Cypripedium calceolus konnte 2022 nur noch an neun der zehn 2012 eingerichteten Untersuchungsflächen nachgewiesen werden. Abgesehen von den insgesamt wenigen Vorkommen befinden sich diese bei nahezu allen vorab genannten Arten in einem ‚mittleren bis schlechten’ (C) Erhaltungszustand. Aktuell konnten lediglich zwei Vorkommen von Cypripedium calceolus mit ‚gut’ (B) bewertet werden. Jurinea cyanoides ist die einzige Gefäßpflanzenart, von der es aktuell (2019) teilweise sehr große Bestände in einem überwiegend ‚guten’ (B), teils sogar ‚hervorragenden’ (3 × A) und nur ausnahmsweise ‚mittleren bis schlechten‘ (2 × C) Gesamterhaltungszustand gibt. Zudem gelangen zwei erfolgreiche Neuansiedlungen, während ein von Beginn an nur sehr kleines Vorkommen inzwischen als erloschen gilt. Buxbaumia viridis wurde erstmals 2014 an einer Stelle gefunden und konnte 2019 dort bestätigt werden. Inzwischen sind mehr als 20 rezente Vorkommen der Art bekannt, wobei die meisten Vorkommen steril sind und Sporophyten bisher nur an zwei Fundorten nachgewiesen werden konnten. Ebenso konnte Mannia triandra an ihrem einzigen Fundort von 2015 auch 2020 bestätigt werden. Das sehr kleine Vorkommen von Hamatocaulis vernicosus aus dem Jahr 2014 wurde hingegen wahrscheinlich trockenheitsbedingt 2019 nicht wieder aufgefunden. Zu den fünf Vorkommen von Orthotrichum rogeri aus dem Jahr 2012 kamen drei weitere Nachweise hinzu, wobei bei der Überprüfung 2022 nur an drei der inzwischen insgesamt acht Fundorten ein Nachweis gelang, was aber u. a. mit der Lebensstrategie der Art erklärt werden kann. Insbesondere in den letzten Jahren haben sich die Standortbedingungen für einige Arten aufgrund der langandauernden Hitzeperioden und der starken Niederschlagsdefizite erheblich verschlechtert, was als eine wesentliche Ursache für den negativen Bestandstrend anzusehen ist. Darüber hinaus sind jedoch das überwiegend mangelnde behördliche Verantwortungsbewusstsein und fehlendes Interesse Grund für die insgesamt prekäre Situation. Unzureichende personelle und finanzielle Ausstattung behindern zudem die Umsetzung von Maßnahmen, die sich aus der Verpflichtung zur Erhaltung der Vorkommen der FFH-Arten grundsätzlich ergeben. Derzeit erfolgen Pflege- und Entwicklungsmaßnahmen in Sachsen-Anhalt ganz überwiegend dank des unterschiedlichen Engagements Interessierter (Ehrenamt, Forschung) unabhängig von behördlichem Zuständigkeitswirrwarr. In einer Übersicht sind die artspezifischen und für die einzelnen Fundorte angepassten Managementvorschläge zusammengestellt.

Zusammenfassung: Printzen, C., Brackel, W. v., Bültmann, H., Cezanne, R., Dolnik, C., Dornes, P., Eckstein, J., Eichler, M., John, V., Killmann, D., Nimis, P. L., Otte, V., Schiefelbein, U., Schultz, M., Stordeur, R., Teuber, D. & Thüs, H. 2022. Die Flechten, flechtenbewohnenden und flechtenähnlichen Pilze Deutschlands – eine überarbeitete Checkliste. – Herzogia 35: 193-393. In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden 2051 Flechten, 520 flechtenbewohnende und 55 flechtenähnliche Pilze, insgesamt 2626 Taxa nebst Synonymen aufgelistet, deren Vorkommen bis 31.12.2021 aus dem Gebiet der Bundesrepublik Deutschland gemeldet wurde. Die Liste basiert auf dem letzten im Jahre 2011 veröffentlichten Artenverzeichnis und berücksichtigt 326 Neunachweise von Arten sowie 428 nomenklatorische Änderungen, die zwischen 2012 und 2021 in 253 Publikationen veröffentlicht wurden. Die Liste umfasst außerdem 114 Taxa, zumeist aus den Verrucariaceae, deren Status weiterhin als problematisch angesehen wird. Abstract: Printzen, C., Brackel, W. v., Bültmann, H., Cezanne, R., Dolnik, C., Dornes, P., Eckstein, J., Eichler, M., John, V., Killmann, D., Nimis, P. L., Otte, V., Schiefelbein, U., Schultz, M., Stordeur, R., Teuber, D. & Thüs, H. 2022. Lichens, lichenicolous and allied fungi of Germany – a revised checklist. – Herzogia 35: 193-393. The present work lists 2051 lichens, 520 lichenicolous and 55 allied fungi, altogether 2626 taxa and their synonyms, whose occurrence has been reported from the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany by the end of 2021. The list is based on the last species list published in 2011 and comprises 326 new records as well as 428 nomenclatural changes published in 253 publications between 2012 and 2021. The list also includes 114 taxa, mostly from the Verrucariaceae, whose status is still considered problematic.

Eckstein, J., Preussing, M. & Schmidt, H.-C. 2020. Bemerkenswerte Moosfunde aus Thüringen. – Herzogia 33: 263 –274.Andreaea rothii subsp. falcata, Barbula crocea, Bryum demaretianum, Grimmia lisae, Orthotrichum alpestre, O. columbicum, Ptychostomum torquescens, Syntrichia subpapillosissima und Ulota phyllantha werden erstmals für Thüringen angegeben. Campylopus subulatus, Fissidens arnoldii, Grimmia decipiens, Meesia uliginosa und Scapania compacta stellen Wiederfunde nach langer Zeit dar. Für die erst seit kurzem unterschiedenen Arten Tortella fasciculata und T. pseudofragilis sowie für Ulota crispa, U. crispula und U. intermedia werden aktuelle Erkenntnisse zu ihrer Verbreitung in Thüringen mitgeteilt, die auf Revisionen von Herbarbelegen beruhen. Ebenfalls vorgestellt werden neue Funde der FFH-Anhang II-Arten Buxbaumia viridis, Dicranum viride und Orthotrichum rogeri.

Zusammenfassung: Stordeur, R., Breuss, O., Eckstein, J., Grünberg, H., Kison, H.-U., Schiefelbein, U., Schultz, M. & Thüs, H. 2020. Beiträge zur Flechtenflora Sachsen-Anhalts und Thüringens. – Herzogia 33: 377–393. Es werden Neu- und Wiederfunde sowie zusätzliche Vorkommen von 32 seltenen oder bemerkenswerten Taxa aus Sachsen-Anhalt und Thüringen vorgestellt. Neu für Sachsen-Anhalt sind 22 Taxa. Darunter sind die lichenisierten Pilze: Acarospora oligospora, Bacidina adastra, Botryolepraria lesdainii, Cladonia cryptochlorophaea, Cryptodiscus gloeocapsa, Epigloea grummannii, Lathagrium undulatum, Pertusaria albescens var. corallina, Scytinium pulvinatum, Thelidium pluvium, Verrucaria memnonia sowie Verrucaria fusca auct. (non Pers.). Ebenfalls neu für Sachsen-Anhalt sind die lichenicolen Arten Intralichen lichenicola, Lichenochora obscuroides, Minutoexcipula tephromelae, Phaeospora parasitica, Stigmidium psorae und S. rivulorum sowie die saprophytischen Pilze Leptosillia macrospora und Thelocarpon saxicola. Verrucaria pilosoides ist neu für Deutschland, basierend auf ITS-Daten gehört unser Beleg in die V. muralis Gruppe. Die für Deutschland bereits als verschollen geführte Art Fuscidea mollis konnte im Bodetal wieder nachgewiesen werden. Der Fund ist gleichzeitig der erste gesicherte Nachweis für Sachsen-Anhalt. Die mindestens 60 bis über 180 Jahre verschollenen Arten Arthonia dispersa, Bacidia subincompta, Lempholemma polyanthes, Opegrapha rupestris, Polyblastia albida, Pyrrhospora quernea und Verrucaria margacea konnten in Sachsen-Anhalt wieder aufgefunden werden. Für Eiglera flavida werden aktuelle Funde (ab 2001) sowie für das erst kürzlich nachgewiesene Scoliciosporum gallurae weitere Funde für das Gebiet aufgeführt.

Octospora doebbeleri, a new bryophilous species infecting rhizoids of the acrocarpous moss Dicranoweisia cirrata, is described and illustrated based on collections from the Czech Republic. The delineation of the new species, based on the unique set of morphological characters, is also supported by phylogenetic analysis of LSU and SSU nrDNA and EF1 alpha. Morphologically, O. doebbeleri is characterised by apothecia with a thin margin and ellipsoid, mostly binucleate ascospores ornamented with small isolated warts. Differences from other morphologically similar species of Octospora are discussed.

ABSTRACT Lamprospora bulbiformis M.Vega & Janošík, sp. nov., L. gibbosa M.Vega & Janošík, sp. nov. and L. thelespora Martínez-Gil, M.Vega & E.Rubio, sp. nov. are described and illustrated based on live collections from Cyprus, France, Portugal and Spain. Phylogenetic analyses of the concatenated LSU, SSU and EF1-α gene sequences show the studied collections of the three species form well supported monophyletic clades. Lamprospora bulbiformis sp. nov. infects Fissidens viridulus (Sw. ex anon.) Wahlenb., L. gibbosa sp. nov. has F. crassipes Wilson ex Bruch & Schimp. as host and L. thelespora sp. nov. grows on Cheilothela chloropus (Brid.) Broth. Three Lamprospora De Not. species namely L. tuberculata Seaver, L. tuberculatella Seaver and L. spinulosa Seaver with a slightly similar ascospore ornamentation were described by Seaver from US collections. Results of our studies of their types and additional material collected by Seaver are presented. The host of L. tuberculata is Pleuridium subulatum (Hedw.) Rabenh., that of L. tuberculatella is a species of Weissia Hedw. and that of L. spinulosa is Physcomitrium pyriforme (Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp. It has yet to be proven that species of Lamprospora described from North America also occur in Europe. European collections assigned to any Lamprospora described from North America require revision. It is not unlikely that many or even all of them represent taxa yet to be described. A considerable part of existing literature on bryophilous Pezizales needs to be reevaluated.

The bryophilous ascomycete Octospora oscarii is described as a new species based on collections from Central Germany and the Czech Republic. It grows on the pleurocarpous moss Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans and is characterised by smooth ascospores and an infection on the rhizoids of its host. This is the first account of P. elegans as a host of bryophilous ascomycetes. Phylogenetic analyses of concatenated LSU, SSU and EF1-alpha gene sequences showed that the studied collections of this species form a well-supported monophyletic lineage differing from all previously studied species of bryophilous Pezizales. Macroscopic and microscopic features of the new species are illustrated by colour photographs and drawings, and are compared to those of the other species of bryophilous Pezizales similarly growing on pleurocarpous mosses.

Lamprospora benkertii is described as a new species based on collections from Georgia, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, and Switzerland. It is characterized by orange apothecia without a fimbriate margin, globose ascospores with a seaveri -type ornamentation comprising strong ridges forming a reticulum and a secondary reticulum formed by fine ridges within the meshes of the primary reticulum. The fungus infects rhizoids of Trichostomum crispulum. Delineation of the new species is supported by LSU and EF1α sequence analyses. Lamprospora benkertii is compared with other Lamprospora species with a seaveri -type or similar ascospore ornamentation: L. ascoboloides, L. cailletii, L. dicranellae, L. funigera, L. hispanica, L. irregulariata, L. leptodictya, L. norvegica, L. paechnatzii, L. seaveri. We also present an updated key for this group of species as well as a more complete description of L. hispanica based on our observations from several collections. New host specificity data are provided for L. hispanica, L. leptodictya, L. norvegica, and L. paechnatzii.

Andreaea rothii subsp. falcata, Barbula crocea, Bryum demaretianum, Grimmia lisae, Orthotrichum alpestre, O. columbicum, Ptychostomum torquescens, Syntrichia subpapillosissima and Ulota phyllantha are reported for the first time from Thuringia. Campylopus subulatus, Fissidens arnoldii, Grimmia decipiens, Meesia uliginosa and Scapania compacta represent new records after a long time. For the only recently recognized species Tortella fasciculata and T. pseudofragilis as well as Ulota crispa, U. crispula and U. intermedia, new findings about their distribution in Thuringia are reported based on the revision of herbarium specimens. Additionally, new records of Buxbaumia viridis, Dicranum viride and Orthotrichum rogeri are mentioned because these species are part of Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive.

First records, rediscoveries and additional localities of 32 rare or remarkable taxa from Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia are presented. Twenty-two taxa are new to Saxony-Anhalt. These include the lichenized fungi Acarospora oligospora, Bacidina adastra, Botryolepraria lesdainii, Cladonia cryptochlorophaea, Cryptodiscus gloeocapsa, Epigloea grummannii, Lathagrium undulatum, Pertusaria albescens var. corallina, Scytinium pulvinatum, Thelidium pluvium, Verrucaria memnonia, and Verrucaria fusca auct. (non Pers.). Further new taxa for Saxony-Anhalt are the lichenicolous species Intralichen lichenicola, Lichenochora obscuroides, Minutoexcipula tephromelae, Phaeospora parasitica, Stigmidium psorae, and S. rivulorum and the saprophytic fungi Leptosillia macrospora and Thelocarpon saxicola. Verrucaria pilosoides is new to Germany; based on ITS-data, it is part of the V. muralis group. Fuscidea mollis was considered possibly extinct in Germany, but a new locality was recorded in the Bode Valley. The new record is simultaneously the first confirmed report from Saxony-Anhalt for this species. The following species have not been recorded in Saxony-Anhalt for 60 to 180 years, but could be confirmed based on recent collections: Arthonia dispersa, Bacidia subincompta, Lempholemma polyanthes, Opegrapha rupestris, Polyblastia albida, Pyrrhospora quernea, and Verrucaria margacea. New records (since 2001) of Eiglera flavida and additional localities for the recently reported Scoliosporum gallurae are listed for the studied areas.

The bryophilous ascomycete Octospora svrcekii, belonging to the section Wrightoideae, has so far been reported from only three localities in the world. New collections from Albania, Austria, Croatia, France, Slovakia and Spain have enabled a better understanding of its variability, ecology, distribution and phylogenetic relationships with other taxa within the section Wrightoideae. Octospora svrcekii was always found associated with Cratoneuron filicinum growing in constantly humid habitats (brooks, rivers or waterfalls), on calcareous bedrock. A species description based on both living and dead material is provided and compared with previous observations. A phylogenetic analysis of the section Wrightoideae, performed using the EF1α, SSU rDNA and LSU rDNA loci, revealed that Octospora svrcekii forms a monophyletic group with O. wrightii, O. erzbergeri, O. hygrohypnophila and O. americana, all of which are characterised by subglobose to broadly ellipsoid ascospores ornamented with isolated warts, and infect mosses in the order Hypnales, inducing galls on their rhizoids. Based on the molecular analysis, O. orthotrichi and O. affinis, formerly also considered as members of the section Wrightoideae, do not belong to the group.

Lamprospora densireticulata sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on fresh collections from Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Hungary and Spain. Its most important distinguishing characters are subglobose ascospores ornamented with a fine, irregular dense net and the infection on rhizoids of its host moss Aloina ambigua. Two other similar species differing mainly in their host mosses and ecology are also described in detail: these are L. carbonicola infecting Funaria hygrometrica occuring on soil and L. dictydiola growing on Tortula muralis on walls, stones or rocks. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and LSU rDNA show that the studied collections of all three species form well-supported monophyletic clades exhibiting only very little polymorphism within the individual species. Comparative tables listing other morphologically similar species of Lamprospora and Octospora are provided.