Three new species of Graphidaceae (Ostropales, Ascomycota) from Atlantic Forest in Northeast Brazil

Three species of Graphidaceae are here described as new to science, based on material found in the Reserva Biologica Guaribas and Area de Protecao Ambiental da Barra do Rio Mamanguape, in Paraiba State, Northeastern Brazil. Astrochapsa submuralis E.L. Lima, Lucking & M. Caceres, with thickly pruinose ascomata and small submuriform ascospores, Chapsa angustispora E.L. Lima, Lucking & M. Caceres, with a combination of inspersed hymenium and comparatively narrow muriform ascospores, and Graphis cilindrospora E.L. Lima, Lucking & M. Caceres, with very large and narrow muriform, brownish ascospores. These findings underline the importance of the northern Atlantic rain forest, including the poorly studied Restinga vegetation, for the continuous discovery of new lichen taxa.