bio.wikisort.org - Plant

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

Arctostaphylos montaraensis
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific 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]

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

• California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion
• Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands

References

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

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