Three new species of Leptographium from pine

Leptographium species are common inhabitants of fresh conifer logs and lumb er that are known for their ability to cause blue-stain and, in some cases, their association with disease. L. procerum has been associated with a roo t disease although controversy surrounds its role in tree death. During the course of the past two decades, a relatively large number of isolates tent atively identified as L. procerum have been collected in various parts of t he world. Some of these display morphological characters unlike those of L. procerum s. sir. and this has prompted us to re-examine them. Four groups of morphologically distinct isolates were identified, of which L.. procerum s. sir, represent-ed one. The remaining isolates of Leptographium are newl y described as L. alethinum, L. pityaphilum and L. euphyes spp. nov.