Recent study of the flora of eastern Brazil finds some new species of Palicourea Aubl. that are related to species currently classified in Psychotria L. subg. Heteropsychotria Steyerm. and found in Atlantic Forest vegetation. Two new species are described here in Palicourea pending transfer of their relatives to this genus: Palicourea alagoana C. M. Taylor from Alagoas and Palicourea amorimii C. M. Taylor & J. G. Jardim from Bahia. Another new species, Palicourea atlantica C. M. Taylor & J. G. Jardim, from Bahia is related to two previously described species that have been classified in Psychotria since 1881. Psychotria jambosioides Schltdl. is transferred to Palicourea here, as Palicourea jambosioides (Schltdl.) C. M. Taylor, and Psychotria schlechtendaliana Müll. Arg. is treated here under its type-bearing name Palicourea divaricata Schltdl. These last three species are separated in a new section, Palicourea sect. Jambosioides (Müll. Arg.) C. M. Taylor.