XVI International Botanical Congess

We have initiated Phase 1 of a Flora of the Benthic Marine Algae of Alaska: an inventory of existing collections. We have compiled ca. 25,000 records of specimens in an ACCESS database. Our inventory has revealed more than 1100 names that have been used for Alaskan seaweeds, including about 100 with Alaskan types. Less than 50% of these names represent distinct species. To complete further phases of the Flora, we need colleagues to take an interest in Alaskan material. Taxa in need of revision include red algae in the Kallymeniaceae, Phyllophoraceae, Gigartinaceae, Ceramiaceae, Delesseriaceae, and Rhodomelaceae, green algae in the Acrosiphoniaceae, Cladophoraceae, and Ulvaceae, and brown algae in the Coilodesmaceae, Dictyosiphonaceae, Punctariaceae, and Alariaceae. Our inventory provides a starting point for these studies.