Following our recent discovery of seven new Shasta snow-wreath populations during 2003 and 2004, we conducted a GIS analysis using location data from the new sites, and from all previously known sites to determine the habitat, geologic, and soil characteristics of each Shasta snow-wreath population location. Previously considered a species only associated with limestone substrates, our new information shows that 47% of all known Shasta snow-wreath sites occur on non-limestone geologic or soil types.
Vaccinium shastense J. K. Nelson & L. Lindstrand III (Ericaceae) is described as a new species from interior California. This new species is most similar to V. parvifolium Smith but differs by its ciliate, inrolled leaf margins, much wider hypanthium scar, dark blue, glaucous, quickly deciduous fruits, greater seed count, and pitted seed surface sculpturing. Moreover, V. shastense and V. parvifolium are allopatric, occur in distinct habitats, and have distinct genetic characters. Two subspecies of Vaccinium shastense are described: Vaccinium shastense subsp. shastense, endemic to the southeastern Klamath Mountains in Shasta County, California, and Vaccinium shastense subsp. nevadense J. K. Nelson & L. Lindstrand III from the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, California. The new subspecies differ from one another in flower color, length of persistent calyx ring, growth habit, geographic range and habitat, and distinct genetic characters. Vaccinium shastense subsp. shastense and Vaccinium shastense subsp. nevadense are compared to morphologically similar taxa in California by inclusion of an updated species key.
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