Leaves ovate (egg shaped, wider toward base) to elliptical (symmetrical oval) or round, margins entire (smooth), sometimes with a slightly lobed margin. Leaves ~0.5-3 cm long, on a very short petiole, thin, bluish-green on top and lighter and pubescent (hairy/downy) below, pinnately veined (veins branching out from a central axial vein). Plant forms a small shrub usually from 0.1 to 1 m in height, stems either erect or trailing, slender, reddish, and somewhat tomentose (woolly). Decumbent stems (resting on ground) will often form roots. The root crowns (and these rooting nodes) are often swollen in appearance. Flowers from April through June, flowers occurring in pairs or small clusters. Flower is small, about 0.4-0.6 cm long, bell-shaped, pink (dark pink or red on the outside), with 5 lobes. Ovary (the swollen base of the pistil) is inferior (under the petals) and the fruit is a round, white berry ~0.8 cm in diameter. Plant is somewhat toxic (can induce vomiting and diarrhea. Favors shady canyons and north-facing slopes in chaparral and oak woodlands and a variety of other vegetation types. It is often found as an understory under trees or in openings in woodlands and forests. Found from 10 to 3000 meters in elevation in the Peninsular, Transverse, and Coastal ranges, as well as the Sierra Nevada and its foothills, the Klamath and Cascades ranges, and the Modoc Plateau of northeastern California and into the Pacific Northwest to British Columbia, Baja California, and New Mexico. Not found in the Great Central Valley or the high and low deserts of Southern California, however.
Symphoricarpos mollis (Caprifoliaceae): creeping snowberry, trailing snowberry, snowberry, or trip vine
The development of this key was partially funded through the Geoscience Diversity Enhancement Program (Award #0703798) and through a course of re-assigned time provided by the CSULB Scholarly and Creative Activities Committee. Thanks also to the students in sections of biogeography, introductory physical geography, GDEP, and LSAMP for "test-driving" various editions of this key.