Contribution to Neotropical data of Geastrum section Corollina (Basidiomycota): Two new earth-stars from Caatinga vegetation, Brazil

The Caatinga is a unique phytogeographical domain of semi-arid vegetation in northeastern Brazil. Although, it includes rare and endemic birds and mammals, it is poorly represented in the Brazilian Conservation Area Network. In this paper we describe two new species of the genus Geastrum section Corollina: G. caatingense and G. parvistellum, based on morphological data and molecular analyses of ITS/LSU nrDNA. Species description, images, and taxonomic discussion are provided.The first author would like to thank Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brazilian agency) for four months of doctorate international scholarship in Madrid–Spain; the second author thanks the Universidade de Pernambuco (Programa de Fortalecimento Acadêmico/PFA), Maria Batista de Freitas (D. Carminha) and family (sítio Jenipapeiro, Triunfo, PB), for the logistical support and assistance during fieldwork. Authors are grateful to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq—Brazil, Projeto Pesquisador Visitante Especial PVE/407474/2013–7) for providing the financial support; and also to Prof. Marian Glenn for English revision.Peer reviewe