The chloroplast haplotypes, ecology, growth, and reproduction of the introduced Japanese green alga Codium fragile were evaluated in four salt marsh pannes from Brave Boat Harbor, Kittery, Maine. All chloroplast haplotypes were identical and they matched the subsp. fragile delineated by Provan et al. Frond stature was seasonally variable and showed a pronounced increase in length from summer to early fall. Residual (i.e., overwintering) spring fronds were highly variable in stature compared to previous fall values, with some fronds only being ~ 0.5–1.0 cm. Frond stature and frequency patterns in the different pannes were related to their proximity to tidal channels, plus patterns of storm damage. Thus, one panne, which was closest to a tidal channel and had the lowest tidal level, exhibited the largest population frequency and smallest mean frond stature. The highest percent occurrence of gametangia occurred during late summer to early fall when the largest fronds were present. The reproductive pattern in the panne closest to a tidal channel peaked sharply following extensive physical damage to the panne, including diminished depth, enhanced desiccation, and anoxic conditions.

In the course of a taxonomic revision of several clades of Greater Antillean Melastomataceae, we discovered a previously undescribed species, Miconia abscondita, from the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti. Miconia abscondita is based on a vegetative collection by Swedish botanist, E. L. Ekman, which was made in 1926. This new species is a member of the Mecranium clade, a group well supported on the basis of both morphological and molecular data, but which is highly embedded within the phylogenetic structure of the genus Miconia. Miconia abscondita is clearly placed within the Mecranium clade on the basis of DNA sequence data, and this placement also is supported by the form of its hairs and, especially, the pattern of stem indumentum; however, it matches no currently described species. Miconia abscondita is thus described, illustrated, and compared with putatively related and/or phenetically similar species. The discovery of M. abscondita brings to 25 the number of recognized species within the Mecranium clade and to 11 the number of species occurring in the Massif de la Hotte, Haiti, a region of exceptional biodiversity that is under continuous threat from anthropogenic pressure.

Members of the freshwater red algal order Batrachospermales are widely distributed across the northeastern US. Among them, the monotypic Tuomeya is the least reported genus, showing a sporadic distribution and being documented by decreasingly frequent reports. This study presents a new find of T. americana from Connecticut and is the first published Connecticut record of the species since 1890. I conducted an extensive literature search and review of herbarium records in order to summarize the known occurrence data for T. americana in New England. From my compilation it appears that the species has been reported with decreasing frequency, but it cannot be determined whether the sparse records reflect a true rarity and decline of T. americana or dwindling floristic efforts in New England. The present study underscores the importance of continuous floristic work aiming to better understand the distributions of algal species.

Fifteen Najas flexilis collections were made in Alaska during the summer of 2012, with 13 of the stations representing either new or formerly undocumented localities for this imperiled Alaskan species. These field collections characterize the Alaskan habitats of N. flexilis as shallow water sites (<1.5 m) with sand-dominated substrates (71% of sites) and have documented an additional 28 species associates (a 300% increase). However, the additional collections have not extended the elevational, latitudinal, or longitudinal extent of N. flexilis from the limits indicated by previous Alaskan collections. Najas flexilis remains rare in Alaska as evidenced by a low specimen recovery rate (10%) from potentially suitable sites, and a total of only 12 geographically distinct localities known across the entire state. The new collections have furnished valuable study material for morphological and genetic analyses, which have confirmed the identity of Alaskan populations as N. flexilis, rather than N. canadensis, a recently identified, cryptic, allotetraploid derivative. A synthesis of information indicates that N. flexilis is indigenous to Alaska, where it originated via past (versus recent) migrations from other North American rather than Old World populations.