Lichenologically Africa is the least investigated continent. Whereas the Mediterranean countries, as well as the East and South African are better known, almost nothing is known from the rest of the continent. The reason may be mainly the high rate of criminal activities and civil wars which prevented scientists in the last decades to collect. Some countries are rated as "Inaccessible" in our listing.
Africa presently comprises 55 countries. Almost all of them are home of different nations and tribes with a traditionally more or less hostile relation. The national borders are arbitrarily as a consequence of the colonial history. It is expected that many of the borders will be changed in this century. Checklists of countries therefor will be subject to change in this respect.