| Arctostaphylos obispoensis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Arctostaphylos |
| Species: | A. obispoensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Arctostaphylos obispoensis | |
Arctostaphylos obispoensis is a species of manzanita, known by the common names bishop manzanita and serpentine manzanita, endemic to California. [2]
The plant is endemic to the southern Santa Lucia Mountains, in the Central Coast region of California. [2] It is found primarily in San Luis Obispo County, and extends into southern Monterey County. [2] [3]
It grows in chaparral and closed-cone pine forest habitats, usually on serpentine soil. It is found at elevations of 60–950 metres (200–3,120 ft). [4]
It is protected within the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Special Interest Area of the Los Padres National Forest, growing in the endemic Sargent cypress (Cupressus sargentii) forest. [5] The species is listed on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants as a rare but not currently endangered species. [6]
Arctostaphylos obispoensis is an upright shrub or multi-trunked tree growing to 1–4 metres (3.3–13.1 ft) in height. [2] [4]
The small branches and newer leaves are woolly. The mature leaves are glaucous-gray, hairless, and oblong (northern range) to widely lance-shaped (southern range), and up to 4.5 centimeters long. [4]
The inflorescence is a dense cluster of white urn-shaped and downward facing "manzanita" flowers.
The red fruit is a round waxy drupe, 9–14 millimetres (0.35–0.55 in) in diameter. [4]
