The lichen genus Biatora in northwestern North America

A taxonomic study of the genus Biatora in northwestern North America yielde d 15 taxa of Biatora Descriptions, notes on ecology and distribution, as we ll as a key to the species are presented Biatora alaskana Printzen & T phi nsberg, sp. nov.; B, hypophaea Pritzen & T phi nsberg, sp, nov.; B. nobilis Printzen & T phi nsberg, sp. nov.; and Lecidea meiocarpa var, tacomensis P rintzen & T phi nsberg, var. nov. are described as new to science. Biatora fallax Hepp, B. rufidula (Graewe) S. Ekman & Printzen, B. toensbergii Holie n & Printzen, and Lecidea betulicola f endamylea (Hedl.) Hinteregger are ne w to North America, and Catillaria erysiboides (Nyl.) Th. Fr is reported fo r the first time in, this century. The occurrence of B. helvola is regarded as doubtful. Species which can easily be misidentified for Biatora are inc luded in the key and briefly treated in an appendix. Biatora hypophaea and Lecidea meiocarpa var. tacomensis are also reported from western Norway. As the genus is still undercollected the actual number of species in the area is probably higher.