1916.] 



JEPSON: REGENERATION IN MANZANITA 



Just here I may revert for a moment to Arctostaphylos stan- 

 fordiana. In the character of its branchlets, and in its inflorescence, 

 this species is so similar to Arctostaphylos patula that the two can 

 scarcely, it would seem, be held as distinct, or in any event it is 

 plain that they lack sufficient differentia. Their difference in be- 

 havior under fire, however, helps to make good this lack of tech- 

 nical distinction. 



Arctostaphylos manzanita, as to regeneration, is one of the 

 vaguest of the earlier published species with which we have to 

 deal. As to its reaction to fire, a definite report is not yet ready. 



Arctostaphylos viscida grows in the Sierra Nevada foothills. 

 The southern form of it has very viscid berries, and is known as 

 Arctostaphylos mariposa. Without for the moment going into the 

 matter of the exact status of A. mariposa, one may safely say that 

 this white manzanita of the Sierra foothills is in hue the most 

 sharply defined manzanita in California. Its foliage is very glau- 

 cous, or even quite silvery, and presents a most striking yet most 

 pleasing contrast to the deep-red bark. My experience is that this 

 species is killed under fire, an observation which has ample con- 

 firmation from the experience of settlers in the southern Sierra 

 Nevada in clearing land of chaparral. In an area where, as the say- 

 ing is, "everything sprouts," they have noticed that this white 

 manzanita does not do so. Mr. Ralph Hopping, Insect-control Expert 

 of the United States Forest Service, also confirms the non-sprouting 

 of Arctostaphylos viscida, or in any event its southern form. 



To fix the limit of species of Arctostaphylos in California has 

 always been difficult, and those who have studied the genus as it 

 occurs with us have recorded widely divergent judgments as to the 

 number of species that are to be recognized. The discrimination of 

 proposed species, however, by all authors, rested upon differences 

 of pubescence, glandulosity and habit. The character of the nutlets 

 and their degree of separation or coalescence has also been used, 



Fig. 4. 



