An annotated checklist and bibliography of lichens and lichenicolous fungi of Libya

All literature about lichens and lichenicolous fungi in Libya is presented. A checklist compiled from literature up to 1950 includes 151 taxa. Based on field work in 1982 and 1983 conducted by A. Anderberg and G. Thor, an additional 54 species new to Libya were collected of 46 are reported here as new. Acarospora nodulosa, Arthonia calcicola. A. pruinata. Arthrosporum populorum, Aspicilia cheresina. Caloplaca cerinelloides, C. haematites, C. marmorata, C. oasis. C. polycarpoides, C. tenuata, C. ulcerosa, Candelariella reflexa, C. senior, Catillaria detractula, Cladonia firma, C. foliacea. Clypeococcum epicrassum. Collema coccophorum, canescens. Fulgensia subbracteata, Intralichen lichenicola, Lecania cyrtella, L. turicensis, Lecanora argentata, L. hagenii, L. horiza, Lecidella laureri, Lichenoconium lecanorae, Milospium graphideorum, Ochrolechia turneri, Physcia abscendens. P. biziana, Physciona grisea, Placopyrenium trachyticum, Pyrrhospora quernea, Rinodina oleae, R. pyrina. Sagiolechia protuberans, Sphaerellothecium parietinarium, Stigmidium tabacinae. Toninia subfuscae, Xanthoria calcicola, X. mediterranea, Xanthoriicola physciae and Zwackhiomyces coepulonus. Given the large territory, the geological heterogeneity, the long coastline, the presence of up to 900 m high mountains near the coast, the at least seminatural lichen habitats still present, the high percentage of species new to Libya in the collections made in 1982 and 1983 (54 out of 87 = 62%) as well as field experience suggest that a realistic estimate of the total number of Libyan lichens and lichenicolous fungi exceeds 1,000 species.