Jepson Herbarium Public Education Series Class Visits
Hastings hosted about 20 students and instructors who are working out how to classify the plants in the genus Arctostaphylos. The class is taught by Tom Parker (SFSU) and Mike Vasey (UC Davis).
Species of Arctostaphylos (family Ericaceae, subfamily Arbutoideae) are commonly known as manzanitas in California. The genus has a high degree of endemism and some 80+ taxa are found here, with several species extending out of the California Floristic Province, including the circumboreal A. uva-ursi. Species range from small, prostrate, woody plants to tree-size forms; all are evergreen. Manzanitas are important members of a number of plant communities, especially chaparral. A group considered difficult by many people, manzanitas can be identified by (and appreciated for) their morphological and ecological differentiation. The class will focus on key taxonomic characters during the first day, as well as some background on manzanita evolution, distribution patterns, and ecology. Fresh material from different species will be used. The second day will involve a field trip to several different habitats, learning to identify species by features available, as well as gaining new insights on their ecological and evolutionary patterns. A revised Arctostaphylos key, developed by the instructors for the Flora of North America North of Mexico and the second edition of The Jepson Manual will be distributed to participants.
Here are a couple of photos of the class finishing dinner in the conference room, with the various specimens they had been studying in the pots all around. Jon Keeley (USGS) attended and the class was organized by Staci Markos and Cynthia Perrine of the Jepson.