Lilaeopsis masonii is a California state-listed rare species with a wide range of morphologies observed in the field throughout its range, and in herbaria collections. This extensive variation confounds reliable taxonomic identification, particularly for those specimens intermediate between L. masonii and its sister taxon, L. occidentalis. To investigate the genetic basis of this morphological variation, we examined two portions of the Lilaeopsis genome in seven species. Specifically we sought to determine whether L. masonii is sufficiently distinct from its closely related, widespread congener to continue to warrant specific status. DNA sequence analysis of ITS1, 5.8S, and ITS2 nuclear ribosomal DNA revealed no differences between L. occidentalis and L. masonii California collections, and minimal differences between these samples and L. occidentalis collected from the state of Washington, suggesting strongly that these two species form a single clade. A combination of fragment data from three AFLP primers yielded 274 fragments from 29 samples. Genetic Manhattan distance values calculated from the AFLP matrix within species ranged from a low of 1.4 to a high of 6.6, reflecting minor differences among all samples. UPGMA cluster phenograms support the results of the PCA analysis, illustrating a cluster of L. occidentalis masonii samples distinct from other Lilaeopsis species. Because conservation dollars should protect unique evolutionary entities, we suggest that L. masonii be subsumed under L. occidentalis and therefore no longer receive formal state protection.

Helianthus paradoxus Heiser (Asteraceae, puzzle sunflower), is a federally threatened hybrid species found in salt marshes of west Texas and New Mexico. Helianthus annuus L. (Asteraceae, common sunflower) is one of the parent species and is found throughout North America, but it is not present in the inland salt marshes where H. paradoxus is found. Helianthus paradoxus has previously been described as a halophyte, but its tolerance to Na₂SO₄, one of the major salts found in its habitat, has not been investigated. However, salinity has been identified as a major abiotic factor influencing the limited distribution of H. paradoxus populations. In this greenhouse study, the effects of elevated concentrations of Na₂SO₄ and NaCl, at equal ionic strengths (0.00, 0.09, 0.17, 0.34, and 0.51), on the survival and dry mass of both H. paradoxus and H. annuus were examined. In the three-way factorial experiment, the effects on dry mass observed were dependent on the species, the type of salt and the ionic strength of the salt. Helianthus paradoxus produced more dry mass than H. annuus in both salt treatments; however, NaCl was more inhibitory of dry mass production for both species with plants unable to survive the highest salt treatments. While dry mass of H. annuus decreased with increasing ionic strengths of both salts, dry mass of H. paradoxus increased by 38 to 72% in low to moderate ionic strengths of Na₂SO₄ relative to the nonsaline treatment. Both species were less tolerant of NaCl than Na₂SO₄ with H. paradoxus seeming to have moderate and high tolerance to elevated Cl⁻ and SO₄²⁻ ionic strength, respectively, while H. annuus had low to moderate tolerance. Greater dry mass production in Na₂SO₄, along with tolerance to both salts, suggests that low to moderate sulfate soil salinity will enhance the dry mass production of H. paradoxus.

The alpine zone of the Sierra Nevada of California, defined as non-forested areas at or above 3500 m, includes 385 species (409 taxa) of native vascular plants. Were the alpine boundary defined as at or above 3300 m, the alpine flora would grow to 536 species (570 taxa). There are 97 species that reach elevations of 4000 m and 27 species that reach to 4200 m. Over half of the alpine species occur in just six families, led by the Asteraceae (55 species, 59 taxa), Poaceae (39 species, 47 taxa), Brassicaceae (34 species), and Cyperaceae (31 species). The largest genus present is Carex with 29 species, and 18 more species would be added by lowering the alpine boundary to 3300 m. Next in size are Draba (14 species) and Lupinus (11 species, 16 taxa). Life forms of the flora are heavily dominated by broad-leaved erect perennials (50%), followed in importance by graminoid perennials (21%) and mats and cushions (11%). Annuals and woody shrubs each account for about 6% of the flora. Only nine species are obligate alpine taxa with a range restricted to elevations of 3500 m or above. An additional 67 species (17% of the flora) occur in both subalpine and alpine habitats but not lower. More than a quarter of the alpine species have elevational ranges that extend as low as foothill habitats defined as occurring below 1200 m. In terms of biogeographic affinities, the broad relationships of the flora include the cordillera of western North America (35%), Intermountain region of the Great Basin (20%), Sierra/Cascade axis (16%), and widespread distributions (14%). There are 36 species in the alpine flora endemic to the Sierra Nevada, and another 31 species that are Californian endemics.

A new California endemic species, Grimmia vaginulata, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by its very small size, julaceous habit, immersed capsule on a straight, centrally inserted seta, very large annulus, keeled unistratose leaves, autoicous sexuality, and a large cylindrical ochrea atop the vaginula that sheathes the seta to the base of the capsule. The differentiation and ecology of the new species is discussed.