Pyrenocarpous lichenized fungi have long been recognized as a major group of lichens. Thus numerous species have been described in Verrucaria since the dawn of lichenology, but not until late 19th century this name come to denote more closely related species, characterized as crustose pyrenocarpous lichens having non-septate as- cospores. Comprehensive revisions of Verrucaria and related genera were published by Vainio (Lichenographia fennica I, 1921) and Zschacke (Rabenhorst's Krypt.-Fl., ed. 2, 9, 1(1) 1933-34). Verrucariaceae was described by Eschweiler in Goebel & Kunze (Syst. Lieh.: 15, 1824), and characterizations by Poelt (in: V. Ahmadjian & M. E. Hale (eds.): The Lichens: 599-632, 1973) and Henssen & Jahns (Lichenes 1973 (1974)) paved the way for a modem circumscription of the family. Recent molecular investigations have supported the monophyly of Verrucariaceae (Gueidan et al., Mycol. Res. Ill: 1145-1168, 2007) but also revealed many problems in the genera as traditionally circumscribed during the pre-molecular era (Savič et al., Mycol. Res. 112: 1307-1318, 2008). In the latter paper major monophyletic groups in Verrucariaceae were identified, and in subsequent pa­pers some of the genera in the Verrucariaceae were given new circumscriptions (Polyblastia, Savič & Tibell 2012; Henrica, Savič & Tibell 2008), while other were reintroduced (Sporodictyon, Savič & Tibell 2009) or described as new (Atla, Savič & Tibell 2008). Another major group in Verrucariaceae, the Thelidium-c\ade, still awaits revision. Further it was discovered that non-septate ascospores, considered characteristic of Verrucaria, is a plesiomorphic feature, making the genus polyphyletic. It was also shown that Staurothele, as previously cir­cumscribed, is not monophyletic. In a multi-authored paper (Gueidan et al., Taxon 58: 184-208, 2009) further investigations of generic relationships in Verrucariaceae were persued, now based on the nucLSU and RPB1 genes, in which further genera were recognized or described, such as Hydropunctaria, Parabagliettoa and Wahlenbergiella. Dermatocarpon has been revised using molecular data by Amtoft et al. (Bryologist 111: 1—40, 2008) and Heiömarsson (2001, 2003) and Catapyrenium s. sir., Placidiopsis and Placidium group by Prieto et al. 2010, 2012. The current treatment of Nordic Verrucariaceae includes those parts of the family that have recently been revised, although this assemblage does not form a natural group. Secondary ’lichen substances’ have not been found in the family.