Morphological and molecular evidence places Maronina into synonymy with Protoparmelia (Ascomycota: Lecanorales)

The phylogenetic placement of the genus <em>Maronina</em> was studied, based chiefly on phenotypic characters such as thallus colour and anatomy, secondary chemistry, the anatomy of the excipulum and the ascus-type. DNA sequence data of mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal loci from some of the species support the hypothesis that <em>Maronina</em> is nested within <em>Protoparmelia</em>. Hence, <em>Maronina</em> is reduced to synonymy with <em>Protoparmelia</em>. Comparison of genetic distances suggests that the two varieties within <em>M. orientalis</em> should be regarded as distinct species. Consequently, the new combinations <em>Protoparmelia australiensis</em> (Hafellner & R. W. Rogers) Kantvilas <em>et al., P. corallifera</em> (Kantvilas & Papong) Kantvilas <em>et al., P. hesperia</em> (Kantvilas & Elix) Kantvilas <em>et al., P. multifera</em> (Nyl.) Kantvilas <em>et al.</em>, and <em>P. orientalis</em> (Kantvilas & Papong) Kantvilas <em>et al.</em> are proposed.