Manzanitas-The Beauty and Complexity of Evolution

Speaker: Tom Parker, Professor of Biology at SF State University since 1980, now Emeritus.
DESCRIPTION:
California has nearly a hundred different species and subspecies of Arctostaphylos (manzanitas). This talk will attempt a few things to provide a context for this diversity. First we’ll examine their origin in the ericaceous subfamily Arbutoideae, an early diverging group of the Ericaceae named after madrones. Within manzanitas themselves, there appear to be two different lineages, which means cousins can co-occur.
Several processes appear to have been very significant for this group, not only those you might suspect like drought and fire, but also odd soil, maritime climates, polyploidy, and hybridization. While there won’t be photos of all 96 California taxa, there will be lots of pictures of different species and their beautiful features to illustrate these ideas.
BIO
Tom Parker is a plant ecologist/evolutionist focusing on plant community dynamics and conservation. Expert in the systematics and ecology of Arctostaphylos species (co-author of treatments for Flora of North America [2009] and Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of California [2012]). Research on dispersal, seed banks, seedling establishment, mycorrhizae, and other aspects of ecology and evolution in a variety of California vegetation types, especially chaparral and tidal wetlands. Over 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters; 3 edited books, 1 co-authored Field Guide to Manzanitas.

[@TS-eo9uf]

Wow. Went to Mt. Tam yesterday and noted two different colors of manzanita seemingly alternating with each other, which is what led me to your video. Thank you for outright answering my question!!!

[@greenbeecolony1911]

Great work thank you so much !!!!!

[@ho2cultcha]

i have a question i'd love an answer to. i understand the evolutionary advantage of stony endocarps, but what is the advantage of seeds which fuse? don't you just end up with a lot less seed overall?

[@greenbeecolony1911]

Can I eat the fruit ?

[@jfjf-yn6wj]

yes you can. they're arent bad at all. manzanita= little apple in spanish which is an apt name

[@AGP510]

It belongs to George Lucas now