Introduction to Keying Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos, Ericaceae)
Saturday, May 4, 2024
9:00 am–4:00 pm
Led by: Michael Vasey and Tom Parker
Sorry, this workshop is full.
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 Emeritus of Biology, SF State) and Mike Vasey (Director Emeritus, SF Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve) will lead a one day workshop using keys from either The Jepson Manual, 2nd edition, or from their book, Field Guide to Manzanitas: California, North America, and Mexico, 2nd Ed., 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 back-ground context on manzanita evolution, distribution patterns, and ecology. Fresh material from different species will be used. Keying will be emphasized.
Bring either the new Field Guide (1st Ed. OK) 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 inflorescences with fruit if possible.
The workshop will run from 9:00-4:00 on Saturday, 4 May 2024, in Holt Hall room 129 at CSU, Chico. The registration fee is $110.00 personal, $130.00 business, $100.00 for members of the Friends of the Ahart Herbarium, and $50.00 for students (only 2 seats available at the student price). Please register in advance; class size limited to 18 participants (class cancelled without a minimum of 8 participants). For more information about the workshop content please contact Tom Parker at parker@sfsu.edu. For information about registration or to register using a credit card please contact the Biology office at (530) 898-5356 or sscholten@csuchico.edu.