Introduction to Keying Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos, Ericaceae)
Saturday, April 25
9:00 am–4:00 pm
Led by manzanita experts: Michael Vasey and Tom Parker
This workshop has been canceled
A group considered difficult by many people, the 90+ California manzanitas are actually easy to identify once you understand the characters and how they vary. Tom Parker (Professor of Biology, SF State) and Mike Vasey (Director, SF Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve) will lead a one day workshop using keys from either The Jepson Manual, 2nd edition, or from their new book, Field Guide to Manzanitas: California, North America, and Mexico, written by the instructors and Michael Kauffmann. Photos in the field guide help to illustrate and clarify differences among species. The class will focus on key taxonomic characters and some background context on manzanita evolution, distribution patterns, and ecology. Fresh material from different species will be used. Keying will be emphasized.
Bring either the Field Guide or Jepson Manual. You should also bring a high-powered hand lens, 14x are best, but 10-12x also work. Feel free to bring fresh specimens with you; if you bring them, record presence or absence of a burl at the base of the stem, what the bark is like on the main stems, exact location and bring new and old inflorescences.