488 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



continuous series can be traced from the distinctly separated 

 nutlets through the partially to the completely consolidated 

 drupe. It has seemed important to dwell on these details 

 of botanical characters, as it is only by a combined view of 

 all, that species as they exist in nature, can be properly dis- 

 tinguished. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 



Not until such time as the species are correctly determined, 

 can any satisfactory views be taken of geographical distri- 

 bution. Judging, however, from such as are well known, 

 the range of species is quite strictly limited by the peculiari- 

 ties of soil, climate, and exposure, to which they are adapted. 

 This is no less true of the world-wide species A. Uva-ursi, 

 which in encircling the globe does not extend beyond that 

 degree of north latitude, or elevated exposure, which is 

 suited to its boreal habit, than of the analogous A. pu- 

 mila, Nutt., confined as far as is known to the sandy wastes 

 of Monterey, or the vicinity of San Francisco. Equally 

 may it be inferred that the peculiar Californian species will 

 not be found outside of the peculiar climatic conditions to 

 which they are adapted, the more so as their structure and 

 limited reproductive characters are not adapted to cosmo- 

 politan habits. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that 

 several of the more southern forms, heretofore referred to 

 known species, will on careful examination be found distinct, 

 and thus justify the opening paragraph, that California is, 

 par excellence, the home of the Mamanitas. Hoping at some 

 future time to verify or disprove these suggestions, I will 

 now simply indicate such species as may at present be ac- 

 cepted, in a preliminary synoptical arrangement, viz. : 



ARCTOSTAPHYLOS, Adans. 



§ UvA Ursi. Gray, Synop. Fl. II, Part I, 27; Parry Proc. 

 Dav. Acad. Science, Vol. lY, 31-37. 



