Pontania with Type VI galls [Smith does not name or describe a species and is ambiguous about whether he considers these host varieties or distinct species on each host.]

[A cross sectional drawing appears in Figure 4, on page 5 of the pdf]

Type VI is the most common Pontania gall-form in California. It is large (10 mm), thick-walled, and protrudes through both upper and lower leaf surfaces. The galls may be round or oval, and the surface is smooth (or pubescent, if the host is so) except for characteristic warty lenticels. Adjacent cecidia frequently anastamose. This category comes close also to the P. viminalis group. On S. sp. near lemmonii in extreme northern California, Type VI galls are pruinose (host plant effect), but nearly all others of Type VI are glossy or lightly pubescent. The most common Pontania in California makes galls that belong to this group, and has been known traditionally as P. pacifica Marlatt. The actual identity of this polymorphic species is unclear, and it is probably synonymous with P. californica Marlatt and others described by him in his 1896 paper. The species attacks S. lasiolepis, especially variety bigelovii Torrey, and the center of distribution is from Monterey County north through Marin County along the California coast. There is another species of Pontania on transmontane S. lasiolepis. Other Pontania making Type VI galls include the very common species on S. lemmonii and Salix sp. near lemmonii, and a rare one on S. scouleriana. Both are common throughout the Sierra Nevada and in the southern Cascade Range.

- Edward L Smith: (1970) Biosystematics and morphology of Symphyta. II. Biology of gall-making nematine sawflies in the California region^©