Arctostaphylos montaraensis

Species of flowering plant

Arctostaphylos montaraensis
Conservation status

Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Arctostaphylos
Species:
A. montaraensis
Binomial name
Arctostaphylos montaraensis
J.B. Roof[1]
Synonyms

Arctostaphylos imbricata Eastw.
Arctostaphylos imbricata Eastw. subsp. montaraensis (J.B. Roof) P.V. Wells[2]

Arctostaphylos montaraensis, known by the common name Montara manzanita, is a species of manzanita in the family Ericaceae.[1]

Distribution

This perennial evergreen shrub is endemic to California, native only to a few occurrences in northern San Mateo County on San Bruno Mountain and Montara Mountain, northern extensions of the Santa Cruz Mountains.[1]

It is found at elevations of 80–500 metres (260–1,640 ft) on the two mountains, growing on decomposing granite and sandstone rock outcrops, in coastal chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats.[1]

The plant is ranked as a critically endangered species by the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, due to being threatened by new developments and off trail/road walking and vehicle (e.g. motorcycles, mountain bikes) habitat degradation.[3]

Description

Arctostaphylos montaraensis is a mounding to erect shrub that can grow to heights from 0.5 metres (1.6 ft) (on exposed granite outcrops) to 5 metres (16 ft). The multiple trunks and stems have a deep reddish−brown bark. The twigs and nascent inflorescence axis are coated in glandular bristles. The shrub has a dense foliage of light gray−green glandular leaves, rough and dull in texture, and up to 4 or 5 centimeters long.[2]

The inflorescence is a dense cluster of cone-shaped manzanita flowers, each white in color, and just under a centimeter long and with bristles inside.[2] The flowering period is January through March.[1]

The small "apple−like" (Spanish manzanita) red fruits are 6–7 millimetres (0.24–0.28 in) wide.

Cultivation

Arctostaphylos montaraensis is cultivated as a chaparral landscaping plant, for California native plant, drought tolerant, and natural habitat gardens.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e = Arctostaphylos+montaraensis Calflora: Arctostaphylos montaraensis
  2. ^ a b c = 13936 Jepson eFlora: Arctostaphylos montaraensis
  3. ^ California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2017; Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California (online edition, v8-03 0.39): Arctostaphylos montaraensis report. accessed 5 May 2017.
  4. ^ Yerba Buena Nursery, native plant horticulture database: Arctostaphylos montaraensis

External links

  • Calflora Database: Arctostaphylos montaraensis (Montara manzanita)
  • Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Arctostaphylos montaraensis
  • USDA Plants Profile for Arctostaphylos montaraensis
  • UC CalPhotos gallery of Arctostaphylos montaraensis images
Arctostaphylos montaraensis, in the Berkeley University of California Botanical Garden California chaparral garden.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Extant Arbutoideae subfamily species
ArbutusArctostaphylos
Subgenus Micrococcus
Section Micrococcus
Subgenus Arctostaphylos
Section Arctostaphylos
Section Foliobracteata
Section Pictobracteata
Unassigned
Arctous
Comarostaphylis
OrnithostaphylosXylococcus
Taxon identifiers
Arctostaphylos montaraensis


Stub icon

This Ericaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e