This book presents the phylogeny, taxonomy and biogeography of freshwater red algae. Its content is divided into five chapters. The first chapter provides a brief history of freshwater red algal research, habits and collecting methods, general biogeographic trends and an overview of the taxonomic/phylogenetic placement of freshwater taxa. The other four chapters are taxonomic treatments of non-marine red algae based on taxonomic levels, i.e. classes within the phylum Rhodophyta, orders within each class, families within each order, and genera within each family. Descriptions, phylogenetic data (including numerous trees), geographic range (maps for most species) and dichotomous keys for identification are presented. Comprehensive data are provided for more than 220 species.

History of freshwater red algae; taxonomic diversity and phylogeny; biogeographic trends; how to collect freshwater red algae; scope and organization of this book

Subphylum Cyanidiophytina: Class Cyanidiophyceae; Subphylum Proteorhodophytina: Classes Compsopogonophyceae, Porphyridiophyceae, Rhodellophyceae and Stylonematophyceae
Subphylum Eurhodophytina: Classes Bangiophyceae and Florideophyceae (Subclasses Corallinophycidae, Hildenbrandiophycidae and Rhodymeniophycidae)
Subphylum Eurhodophytina: Class Florideophyceae, Subclass Nemaliophycidae, Orders Acrochaetiales, Balbianiales and Thoreales
Subphylum Eurhodophytina: Class Florideophyceae, Subclass Nemaliophycidae, Order Batrachospermales.