Morphological and molecular data confirm new records of three freshwater red algae, Batrachospermum macrosporum, Nemalionopsis tortuosa and Caloglossa leprieurii in Taiwan

Three species of freshwater red algae, Batrachospermum macrosporum, Nemalionopsis tortuosa and Caloglossa leprieurii, were recorded for the first time from the freshwater algal flora of Taiwan. The first two were found attached to submerged stones from a clean river in Pingjen City, Taoyuan County, Taiwan. The third was attached to submerged stones from a gutter in Gongliao Village, Taipei County, Taiwan. The endangered species, N. tortuosa, also represents a new generic record on this island. In addition to the identification of the batrachospermalean taxa through morphological and molecular analyses, we also discuss the biogeography of C. leprieurii by using the RuBisCO spacer region.