This is the third volume of the Flora of Australia to cover the lichens. Since publication of the first two volumes in this subseries in 1992 and 1994, it has become apparent that the rigid systematic arrangement and the five volumes as originally proposed are not conducive to making reliable information available in a timely fashion. A more flexible and pragmatic approach is being adopted whereby a total of up to 10 smaller volumes will be published at intervals of 1-2 years, as sufficient treatments of complete families become available.
This volume includes descriptions of some of the more robust and luxuriant lichens of cool-temperate south-eastern Australia (Lobariaceae and Sphaerophoraceae), as well as ecologically important soil-inhabiting groups in semi-arid and arid regions (Peltulaceae, Endocarpon and Placidium). Also in this volume are the first Flora of Australia treatments of crustose lichens, including the mainly saxicolous Verrucariaceae, and the Trichotheliaceae, a family that is most diverse on the bark and leaves of trees and shrubs in tropical rainforest.
Complete or partial accounts of seven orders are provided here, including nine families, 24 genera and 256 species and infra-specific taxa. The is also a key to genera of crustose pyrenocarpous lichens in Australia.
Eight new lichen taxa are described, including the new family Myeloconaceae, and new combinations and a lectotypification.