Arctostaphylos obispoensis

Arctostaphylos obispoensis is a species of manzanita, known by the common names bishop manzanita and serpentine manzanita, endemic to California.[1]

Arctostaphylos obispoensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Ericales
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Arctostaphylos
Species:
A. obispoensis
Binomial name
Arctostaphylos obispoensis

Distribution

The plant is endemic to the southern Santa Lucia Mountains, in the Central Coast region of California.[1] It is found primarily in San Luis Obispo County, and extends into southern Monterey County.[1][2]

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).[3]

Conservation

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.[4] The species is listed on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants as a rare but not currently endangered species.[5]

Description

Arctostaphylos obispoensis is an upright shrub or multi-trunked tree growing to 1–4 metres (3.3–13.1 ft) in height.[1][3]

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.[3]

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.[3]

See also
  • Leaning Pine Arboretum
  • Ericaveae Bishop Manzanita Arclostaphylos obispoensis
  • Arctostaphylos obispoensis—San Luis Obispo manzanita
  • Arctostaphylos obispoensis Manzanita Mug Shot No. 66
  • Arctostaphylos obispoensis Manzanita Mug Shot No. 66

References
  1. "Field Guide to Manzanitas," Michael Kauffmann, Tom Parker, & Michael Vasey, Backcountry Press, 2015, ISBN 978-1-941624-02-9, page 98.
  2. Calflora: Distribution map
  3. Jepson
  4. Los Padres National Forest: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Special Interest Area
  5. CNPS, Rare Plant Program. 2016. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02). California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. — Arctostaphylos obispoensis . accessed 1.16.2016.
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