Arctostaphylos pilosula

Arctostaphylos pilosula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Arctostaphylos
Species: A. pilosula
Binomial name
Arctostaphylos pilosula
Jeps. & Wies. ex Jeps.

Arctostaphylos pilosula is a species of manzanita, known by the common names La Panza manzanita and Santa Margarita manzanita, that is endemic to California. [1] [2]

Its common names comes from populations on the La Panza Range, near the town of Santa Margarita. [1]

Distribution

The plant is endemic to the La Panza Range and southern Santa Lucia Mountains, in the Central Coast region of California. [1] It is found primarily in San Luis Obispo County. [3] There is one occurrence in southern Monterey County.

It grows in chaparral and closed-cone pine forest habitatss, on shale outcrops and slopes. It is found at elevations of 30–1,250 metres (98–4,101 ft). [1][2]

Description

Arctostaphylos pilosula is an erect and bristly shrub growing 1–5 metres (3.3–16.4 ft) in height. [1] [2]

The leaves are a round, oval shape and dull and hairless in texture. They grow up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long. [2]

The shrub blooms in spherical white inflorescences of cone-shaped and downward facing "manzanita" flowers, each just under 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long. Its bloom period is December to March. [2]

The fruit is a reddish brown drupe about a centimeter wide, that ripen in the summer. [2]

Conservation

The species is listed on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants as a fairly endangered and vulnerable species. [4]

References

External links


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