The classification of Viscaceae in the second edition of the Jepson Manual (TJM2) differs radically from that in the first edition of the Jepson Manual (TJM1). The number of species of Arceuthobium M. Bieb. was reduced from 12 in TJM1 to three in TJM2, and for Phoradendron Nutt. reduced from seven species to four. The TJM2 treatment is conservative in regards to these taxa, and disregards many morphological, phenological, and other physiological discontinuities (e.g., host preferences) among the Viscaceae of California that have been consistently reported in the scientific literature since the 1960s. The species accepted in TJM2 have widespread geographical distributions containing distinct lineages, some of which we consider different species, and other lineages that may be considered cryptic taxa. These taxa are distinct enough, based on differences in morphology, phenology, host specificity, and geographic isolation, to warrant classification as species or subspecies. The taxonomic recognition of these taxa is of critical importance to resource managers that are responsible for mitigating economic impacts of these parasitic plants, or documenting and protecting rare mistletoes. We present an alternative treatment for the Viscaceae, which recognizes both the cryptic and distinct mistletoes in California. We provide a brief history of the taxonomic classification of mistletoes in California and why we believe the treatment proposed herein is a far better representation of the mistletoe diversity in the state. Keys and descriptions are provided for the identification of mistletoes in the field that use both morphological characters and host-mistletoe relationships.

Recent genetic studies of the Bangiales (Rhodophyta) led to the resurrection of the marine red algal genus Wildemania De Toni. To gain a better understanding of the phylogenetic history of this genus and its plastid genome structure, the holotype specimen of Wildemania schizophylla (Hollenberg) S. C. Lindstrom was analyzed using next generation sequencing technology. The plastid genome of W. schizophylla is 193,008 bp in length and contains 249 genes, including 47 ribosomal, 34 tRNA, 29 photosystem, 27 open reading frames, 25 hypothetical proteins, 10 phycobiliprotein, 8 ATP synthase, and 8 cytochrome b/f complex genes. The plastid genome shows similar organization and content to other Bangiaceae, except that it lacks the typical 16S and 23S ribosomal RNA repeat. Phylogenetic analysis of the W. schizophylla plastid genome against other Bangiaceae places W. schizophylla in a robustly supported position, intermediate between Porphyra C. Agardh and Pyropia J. Agardh. These data support the recent resurrection of the genus Wildemania. Plastid genome analysis of the holotype specimen of W. schizophylla generated an authentic barcode that can be used for future taxonomic studies. Comparison of the rbcL sequence from the type material of W. schizophylla confirms it is endemic to California.

Eremocarya (Boraginaceae), a resurrected segregate of the genus Cryptantha, has recently been recognized as containing two species: E. lepida and E. micrantha. These two species differ in nutlet shape, nutlet size, and features of the corolla, including limb width, presence or absence of a prominent yellow coloration at the fornices of the corolla center, and, perhaps most importantly, presence or absence of distinctive “fornix bodies” at the corolla mouth. Here we present evidence for a large-flowered form of E. micrantha that we argue should be treated as a new taxonomic variety, which we call E. micrantha var. pseudolepida. In nutlet morphology, E. micrantha var. pseudolepida is very similar to E. micrantha var. micrantha and different from E. lepida. Eremocarya micrantha var. pseudolepida differs from E. micrantha var. micrantha and is similar to E. lepida in corolla limb diameter and in having a tendency to possess a prominent yellow coloration in the corolla throat. However, E. micrantha var. pseudolepida lacks the distinctive fornix bodies of E. lepida. This new variety of E. micrantha is generally geographically discrete and allopatric relative to E. micrantha var. micrantha, with virtually all known populations occurring in Baja California, Mexico, between approximately 28° and 32° north latitude. However, two contiguous populations of a large-flowered E. micrantha were discovered in southeastern Arizona. In addition, one population of E. micrantha var. pseudolepida, in the central part of its range in Baja California, appears to be sympatric with a disjunct population of E. micrantha var. micrantha. We feel that the morphological distinctiveness and near geographic discontinuity of this entity warrants its status as a new taxon. Future molecular studies will be needed to evaluate the phylogeographic history of this intriguing complex of plants in order to evaluate both character evolution and taxonomic delimitation.