Talk:Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Taxonomy
Help wanted! Biological classification of Arctostaphylos uva-ursi subspecies needs clarification by a taxonomist (which I am not). A brief review of sources cited in this article and the Wikipedia pages Bearberry, Manzanita & Arctostaphylos indicate that some plants listed in various sources as ssp. of A. uva-ursi may be separate species, e.g. ''A. uva-ursi ssp. Artica may be A. artica''. D Anthony Patriarche (talk) 03:11, 16 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I'm not a taxonomist, but I note that Flora of North America does not endorse Infraspecific taxa at this time. "Arctostaphylos uva-ursi exhibits great variation in indument associated with the young twigs. Most of this variation has historically been separated into subspecies, except that a recent analysis of the group suggested environmentally-based variation in these characters (T. J. Rosatti 1987b). This is the most widely distributed of all Arctostaphylos species and is the only one found outside of North America. Two ploidy levels are common, and populations sometimes contain both diploids and tetraploids. More work on this widespread species will likely elucidate its variation in morphology and ploidy. Infraspecific taxa may well be recognized once these patterns are further assessed." USDA PLANTS is not reliable regarding current taxonomy, in my experience. --Walter Siegmund (talk) 00:28, 17 October 2012 (UTC)