Taxonomic status of diploid Salicornai europaea (s.L.) (Chenopodiaceae) in northeastern North America.

The taxonomic status of diploid Salicornia europaea L. (s.1.) in northeastern North America has been evaluated based on morphological and electrophoretic variation within and between populations. Populations of two European diploid micro- species, S. ramosissima J. Woods and S. europaea (s.s.), and populations of the midwestern diploid, S. rubra A. Nels., were also examined, affording a comparison between North American S. europaea (s.1.) and recognized species. Anther length, width of the scarious border of the fertile segment, and floral perianth shape were used to subdivide North American diploid populations into two groups. These groups were morphologically distinct from S. rubra and the European microspecies. The electrophoretic profile was unique in each morphologically distinct group of populations of S. europaea (s.1.) in northeastern North America. Based on morphological, geographical, and electrophoretic differences, diploid populations of S. europaea (s.1.) from this region are assigned to one of the following two new species: S. maririma Wolff & Jefferies, sp.nov., and S. borealis Wolff & Jefferies, sp.nov. The tetraploids are retained in S. europaea (s.1.).