| Arctostaphylos pacifica | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Arctostaphylos |
| Species: | A. pacifica |
| Binomial name | |
| Arctostaphylos pacifica Roof | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Arctostaphylos pacifica, the Pacific manzanita, is a threatened species of manzanita endemic to San Bruno Mountain described by James B. Roof in 1962. [3]
Arctostaphylos pacifica is a short burl forming species of manzanita that grows in mats on the sandstone outcrops of San Bruno Mountain at elevations of 300m. Specimens grow to 10–60 cm in height, [4] the bark of the plant is an unusual light brown color compared to the red hue of other Manzanitas, the serrate leaves are pastel green and densely fill the branches. [3] The plant uses ligno-tubers for clonal reproduction, which allowed for the species to survive the 1964 Devil's Arroyo fire that burned San Bruno Mountain, enabling plants to resprout from the reproductive burls. [5]
Roof gave the species the epithet of pacifica as he believed that it "represented a relic link between three maritime species of manzanita that occur on California's Pacific Littoral". [3]
Arctostaphylos pacifica was at one time demoted to hybrid status, however morphological evidence along with the absence of one proposed parent species on San Bruno Mountain led to its elevation back to species rank. [6]
Manzanita is a common name for many species of the genus Arctostaphylos. They are evergreen shrubs or small trees present in the chaparral biome of western North America, where they occur from Southern British Columbia and Washington to Oregon, California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the United States, and throughout Mexico. Manzanitas can live in places with poor soil and little water. They are characterized by smooth orange or red bark and stiff, twisting branches. There are 105 species and subspecies of manzanita, 95 of which are found in the Mediterranean climate and colder mountainous regions of California, ranging from ground-hugging coastal and mountain species to small trees up to 20 feet (6m) tall. Manzanitas bloom from winter to early spring and carry berries in spring and summer. The berries and flowers of most species are edible.
Arctostaphylos is a genus of plants comprising the manzanitas and bearberries. There are about 60 species of Arctostaphylos, ranging from ground-hugging arctic, coastal, and mountain shrub to small trees up to 6 m tall. Most are evergreen, with small oval leaves 1–7 cm long, arranged spirally on the stems. The flowers are bell-shaped, white or pale pink, and borne in small clusters of 2–20 together; flowering is in the spring. The fruit are small berries, ripening in the summer or autumn. The berries of some species are edible.
The Northern California coastal forests are a temperate coniferous forests ecoregion of coastal Northern California and southwestern Oregon.
Arctostaphylos andersonii, the Santa Cruz manzanita, is a species of Arctostaphylos, limited in geography to the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. It grows in openings in redwood forests, usually below 700 meters elevation. It was named after Charles Lewis Anderson by Asa Gray.
Arctostaphylos auriculata is an endangered species of Arctostaphylos endemic to California, and limited in geography to the area surrounding Mount Diablo, in Contra Costa County.
Arctostaphylos parryana, with the common name Parry manzanita, is a species of manzanita.
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.
Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. gabrielensis, known by the common name San Gabriel manzanita, is a subspecies of manzanita. It is endemic to one small area in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, California.
Arctostaphylos imbricata is a species of manzanita known by the common name San Bruno Mountain manzanita.
Arctostaphylos luciana is a species of manzanita known by the common name Santa Lucia manzanita, is endemic to California.
Arctostaphylos mewukka is a species of manzanita known by the common name Indian manzanita.
Arctostaphylos montaraensis, known by the common name Montara manzanita, is a species of manzanita in the family Ericaceae.
Arctostaphylos obispoensis is a species of manzanita, known by the common names bishop manzanita and serpentine manzanita, endemic to California.
Arctostaphylos pilosula is a species of manzanita, known by the common names La Panza manzanita and Santa Margarita manzanita, that is endemic to California.
Arctostaphylos rainbowensis is a species of manzanita known by the common name Rainbow manzanita. It is endemic to California, where it is known only from northern San Diego and southern Riverside Counties in the Peninsular Ranges.
Arctostaphylos franciscana, known by the common name Franciscan manzanita, is a species of manzanita. It was named by Alice Eastwood and is native to the city of San Francisco.
Arctostaphylos bolensis is a species of perennial shrub in the heather family commonly known as the Cerro Bola manzanita. This species of manzanita is characterized by an erect habit, pendent panicles and the lack of a burl. It is a prolific bloomer, and when in blossom, it is enshrouded in white to pink urn-shaped flowers. This species is endemic to the Cerro Bola, and possibly the Cerro Italia, two mountain ranges southwest of the Valle de Las Palmas in northern Baja California.
Arctostaphylos montana is a species of manzanita. It is endemic to the San Francisco Bay area where it has been found on Mount Tamalpais and at the Presidio of San Francisco.
The Cerro Bola is a coastal metavolcanic mountain formation in northwestern Baja California. The Cerro Bola, along with the nearby mountain Cerro Gordo form the highest elevation areas of Tijuana Municipality. Because of its prominence, the transmitters for television station XHDTV and radio station XHPRS-FM are located on the summit of Cerro Bola, which reaches an elevation of 1,260 m (4,130 ft). It is located approximately 35 km (22 mi) south of the Tecate border crossing, and sits at the southwest end of the Valle de Las Palmas. The mountain range is host to a number of rare and endemic plant species, such as Arctostaphylos bolensis and Ceanothus bolensis.