The Shasta snow-wreath (Neviusia cliftonii Shevock, Ertter & D.W. Taylor; Rosaceae) is a rare shrub, endemic to areas near Shasta Lake in the eastern Klamath Range of northern California, USA. Since discovery in 1992, the number of known populations has increased from 3 to 33. Shasta snow-wreath is a thicket-forming shrub, thought to reproduce primarily vegetatively, where individual stems (ramets) arise from the root system. We provide the first descriptions of demography and site characteristics using data collected in eight populations of Shasta snow-wreath. We established permanently-marked transects and recorded the number of ramets, individual stem heights, and the number of inflorescences in 2011, 2012, and 2013. We also characterized sites by tree canopy, shrub components, fuels, vegetation, and ground cover. Using the number of ramets recorded and the total population area, we estimated the number of ramets in each population (‘ramet population size'). Ramet population size ranged from 716 to 18,641 (mean = 5467), and the average maximum stem height ranged from 50 to 159 cm (mean = 104 cm). Larger ramet population size and taller stems were both associated with less tree cover. The two largest ramet population sizes were found at the two highest elevations and most west-facing sites. The average number of inflorescences per stem over three years ranged from 0.08 to 4.91 (mean = 2.76) and showed an increase with elevation. How Shasta snow-wreath will respond to succession or disturbances is unknown, but the negative relationship of ramet population size and canopy cover indicates that fire may have been important for influencing the population size historically. Continued monitoring of the studied populations, and the addition of more populations to the monitoring program, would be useful for detecting demographic changes and for better understanding the factors that govern Shasta snow-wreath.

Corethrogyne DC. (Asteraceae) is a controversial genus due to complex and confounding variability, and the subject of multiple taxonomic revisions. It was previously included within Lessingia Cham. The single species, C. filaginifolia Nutt., has high infraspecific variability. This study was conducted to better understand this infraspecific variability for C. filaginifolia var. incana (Lindl.) Canby and C. filaginifolia var. linifolia H. M. Hall. Barcoding loci from nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) were used along with morphological comparisons of voucher specimens. Based on two nrDNA loci, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses, we detected five haplotypes of C. filaginifolia. The two focal varieties of this study, C. filaginifolia var. incana and C. filaginifolia var. linifolia, were indistinguishable at both, nrDNA and cpDNA loci.

There is value in understanding the past and how it has affected the present. Science focuses on empirical findings, and we know that our prior experiences and those of our predecessors play important roles in determining how we interpret the present. We learn from accomplishments and foibles of predecessors and appreciate the real life experiences we have gone through. In our studies of the genus Arctostaphylos Adans. we have been struck by the fascinating stories surrounding taxonomists who have played roles in the development of our current understanding of the group. In addition to providing insights, they sometimes provide humor and lessons on the value of competition versus collaboration. We offer this history of the humans that forged the taxonomy behind Arctostaphylos classification in this light.