(Atlantic Forest myxomycetes biota: new records of Physarales for the state of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil). The order Physarales encompasses the families Elaeomyxaceae, Didymiaceae, and Physaraceae, involving 16 genera and approximately 371 species, several of them well represented in the Neotropics. A study on the presence of this order in the Atlantic Forest's myxomycetes biota was carried out in 2005 for the Mata do Pau Ferro Permanent Preservation Area (Área de Preservação Permanente Mata do Pau Ferro - APPMPF), located in the Brejo Paraibano mesoregion (6°58'12' S and 35°42'15' W, 400-650 m.a.s.l., 600 ha). Collections of specimens were undertaken between June and December, encompassing the rainy and dry periods, and exploring different substrates. Representative vouchers of the studied material are deposited in the UFP Herbarium. Among the Physarales found, the genus Fuligo is a new record for the state of Paraíba as are the following species: Diderma hemisphaericum (Bull.) Hornem., Didymium clavus (Alb. & Schwein.) Rabenh., D. nigripes (Link) Fr. (Didymiaceae), Fuligo septica (L.) F. H. Wigg., Physarum echinosporum Lister, P. pulcherrimum Berk. & Ravenel and P. viride (Bull.) Pers. (Physaraceae). Descriptions based on the studied material are presented for each species, along with comments and the species geographic distribution in Brazil.
Didymiaceae; montane forest; Neotropics; Physaraceae
