Arctostaphylos andersonii
Encyclopedia
Arctostaphylos andersonii, the Santa Cruz Manzanita, is an endangered species
of Arctostaphylos
, limited in geography to the Santa Cruz Mountains
of California
. It grows in openings in redwood forest below 700 m.
2-5 m high, which can resemble a small tree. The 4-7 cm smooth leaf
blades have serrated edges and deeply lobed bases. It flowers February through May. The fruit
is small (2-8 mm) and sticky.
The Santa Cruz Manzanita has no basal burl for regrowth and must propagate by seed.
Some populations closer to the Bonny Doon region are highly glaucous
(the leaves produce a white, powdery substance on the surface) whereas others are not.
This species is often confused with A. regismontana
, A. pallida
, and A. pajaroensis
, but can be easily identified by geography.
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of Arctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos is a genus of plants comprised by the manzanitas and bearberries. They are shrubs or small trees.There are about 60 species of Arctostaphylos, ranging from ground-hugging arctic, coastal, and mountain species to small trees up to 6 m tall. Most are evergreen , with small oval...
, limited in geography to the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It grows in openings in redwood forest below 700 m.
Description
Arctostaphylos andersonii is a woody shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
2-5 m high, which can resemble a small tree. The 4-7 cm smooth leaf
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
blades have serrated edges and deeply lobed bases. It flowers February through May. The fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
is small (2-8 mm) and sticky.
The Santa Cruz Manzanita has no basal burl for regrowth and must propagate by seed.
Some populations closer to the Bonny Doon region are highly glaucous
Glaucous
Glaucous is used to describe the pale grey or bluish-green appearance of the surfaces of some plants, as well as in the names of birds, such as the Glaucous Gull , Glaucous-winged Gull , Glaucous Macaw , and Glaucous...
(the leaves produce a white, powdery substance on the surface) whereas others are not.
This species is often confused with A. regismontana
Arctostaphylos regismontana
Arctostaphylos regismontana is a species of manzanita known by the common name Kings Mountain manzanita. It is endemic to California, where it is known from the northern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains in the southern San Francisco Bay Area....
, A. pallida
Arctostaphylos pallida
Arctostaphylos pallida, commonly known as Pallid Manzanita, Oakland Hills Manzanita, and Alameda Manzanita, is an upright Manzanita shrub from the Ericaceae, or heath family. It is endemic to the eastern San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California.-Description:Arctostaphylos pallida grows to...
, and A. pajaroensis
Arctostaphylos pajaroensis
Arctostaphylos pajaroensis is a species of manzanita known by the common name Pajaro manzanita. It is endemic to California, where it is known mainly from Monterey County. Historical occurrences have been noted in Santa Cruz and far western San Benito Counties; these may no longer exist. Most of...
, but can be easily identified by geography.