Manzanita

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,[1] 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 in the winter to early spring and carry berries in spring and summer.[2] The berries and flowers of most species are edible.

For other uses, see Manzanita (disambiguation).
Main article: Arctostaphylos

Manzanita branches with red bark

The word manzanita is the Spanish diminutive of manzana (apple). A literal translation would be little apple. The name manzanita is also sometimes used to refer to species in the related genus Arbutus, which is known by that name in the Canadian area of the tree's range, but is more usually known as madroño, or madrone in the United States.

Uses
A Manzanita bush

Folk medicine

Native Americans in Northern California made a tisane from manzanita leaves to treat poison oak rash.[3][4] The leaves contain chemicals with a mildly disinfectant quality, and can be used for mild urinary tract infections.[4][5][6]

The berries of the manzanita tree can be turned into a cider by mashing them into a paste, pouring and an equal amount of water over the paste, and then straining it. In Native American cultures, this cider is then used to treat stomach ailments and promote a healthy appetite. The berries have also been used to treat bronchitis and kidney problems. [7]

The leaves of the Manzanita also have many medicinal purposes. Chewing the leaves of the manzanita tree into a poultice can treat open sores and ease headaches after application. It has been shown that chewing on the leaves, without ingestion, can cure stomach issues like cramps and aches. Infusions of the leaves can also treat ailments such as diarrhea and severe colds. [8][9]

Culinary use

The berries are a good food, as they can be harvested en masse and stored.[4] Once stored and dried, the berries can be ground into a coarse meal.[5] The berries can be eaten ripe (when red) or green for a slightly sour taste. They are good eaten alone, or used as a thickener or sweetener in other dishes.[4] Native Americans used the fresh berries to make cider[10] and used the leaves as toothbrushes.[11]

Landscape use

Manzanitas are extremely useful as ornamental plants in gardens in the western United States and similar climate zones. They are evergreen, highly drought-tolerant, have picturesque bark and attractive flowers and berries, and come in many sizes and growth patterns.

Arctostaphylos columbiana, for example, is hardy enough to be used for highway landscaping in western Oregon and Washington. Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet', A. uva-ursi (the Bearberry), and other low-growing manzanitas are extremely valuable evergreen groundcovers for dry slopes. Larger varieties, such as Arctostaphylos. 'Dr. Hurd,' can be grown as individual specimens, and pruned to emphasize the striking pattern and colors of the branches. They prefer light, well-drained soil, although the low-growing ground covers will tolerate heavier soils.

Decorative use

Manzanita branches are popular as decoration, due to their unique shape, color, and strength when dried. Florists sometimes use them as centerpieces at wedding receptions and other events, often adding hanging votive candles, beaded gems and small flowers to them.

Manzanita bark

The wood is notoriously hard to cure, mostly due to cracking against the grain, giving it few uses as lumber. The slow growth rate and many branchings further decrease the sizes available. Some furniture and art employ whole round branches, which reduces cracking and preserves the deep red color.

The dead wood decays slowly and can last for many years, on and off the plant. Sunlight smooths and bleaches manzanita to light grey or white, rendering it superficially akin to animal bones. Because of this and the stunted growth of many species, manzanita is often collected in its more unusual shapes, giving it the nickname mountain driftwood.

Manzanita bark peeling off in small curls

Manzanita wood is also used as perches for parrots and other large pet birds. The branches of the larger species are extremely long-lasting for this purpose. Some aquarium keepers use sandblasted manzanita as driftwood in planted aquaria because of its attractive forked growth and its chemical neutrality.

If properly cleaned and cured, it holds up well over extended periods of submersion. The wood is also resistant to the leaching of tannins into the water column, a problem often found with other aquarium driftwoods. When used as driftwood, manzanita must often be either weighted down for several weeks or soaked first to counteract the wood's natural buoyancy when it has been dried and cured. The green wood does not float.

Manzanita wood, when dry, is excellent for burning in a campfire, barbecue, fireplace, or stove. It is dense and burns at a high temperature for long periods. However, caution should be exercised, because the high temperatures can damage thin-walled barbecues, and even crack cast iron stoves or cause chimney fires.

Other uses

During World War II, Manzanita root burls were used as an expedient native material to make smoking pipes due to its relation and similar fire-resistant properties to then-unavailable imported briar. Labeled as "Mission Briar", it was harvested for the remainder of the war, stopping soon after when supplies of imported briar once again became available.[12]

Rarity and endemics

Some manzanita species are among the rarest plants in the world.[13]

Arctostaphylos hookeri ravenii (Presidio manzanita),[14][15] an endemic species, is the most endangered and restricted plant in the mainland United States. In 1987 only one specimen remained, at a secret location in the Presidio of San Francisco National Historic Landmark District in San Francisco, California. This plant has since been successfully cloned.[16][17]

Arctostaphylos franciscana (Franciscan Manzanita), a species native to San Francisco,[18] had not been seen growing wild since 1947 until it was spotted growing in the Presidio of San Francisco in October 2009.[19][2] Caltrans transplanted this specimen on 23 January 2010 to make way for the Doyle Drive Replacement Project.[20][21][22] Transplanting costs were funded in part by Federal Highways Administration, Caltrans, The Presidio of San Francisco, and private donors.[23][24][25] "Arctostaphylos hookeri, subspecies franciscana", a scrubby, thin-twigged bush, riddled with the webs of miniature spiders, resides in a corner of the California section of The Strybing Arboretum.[26]

An as yet unclassified and unidentified Manzanita, found growing on San Francisco's Parker Avenue, presents a test case for San Francisco's Landmark Tree Ordinance.[27][28][29][30][31][32][30]

Genus evolution

Genus evolution is relatively recent; however, in Hogan's tracing of the genus evolutionary history:[33] "convergent evolution patterns appear to complicate cladistic constructions for certain portions of the genus cladogram. In any case, fossil ancestors of the genus Arctostaphylos have been suggested to have occurred in the Middle Miocene, with modern species beginning to take shape in the Late Tertiary."

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See also

References
  1. Kauffmann, Michael; et al. (11 May 2015). "Field Guide to Manzanitas". Backcountry Press.
  2. Fimrite, Peter (26 December 2009). "Manzanita bush's discovery excites scientists". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  3. "A Guide to Useful, Edible and Medicinal Plants of California". Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  4. Nyerges, Christopher (21 April 2014). "Guide to Wild Manzanita". Mother Earth News. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  5. DeVries, Lynn (2015). "Manzanita". Medicinal Herb Info. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  6. Moore, Michael (2003). "Manzanita, Arctostaphylos spp". Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West. University of New Mexico Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-0890135907. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  7. "Manzanita « Medicinal Herb Info". medicinalherbinfo.org. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  8. "Arctostaphylos manzanita Manzanita, Whiteleaf manzanita, Konocti manzanita, Contra Costa manzanita, Roof's manzanita, Wieslan PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  9. U.S. Department of Agriculture (September 2018). "Whiteleaf Manzanita" (PDF). Natural Resources Conservation Service.
  10. Little, Elbert L. (1994) [1980]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region (Chanticleer Press ed.). Knopf. p. 580. ISBN 0394507614.
  11. Bear Grylls Man vs. Wild Sierra Nevada episode (US: 8 December 2006 Discovery Channel, UK: 31 Mar 2007 Channel 4)
  12. Leverette, Robert M. "Two Alternative Pipe Woods". Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  13. "Sex and shrubbery: Presidio biologists seek mates for SF's loneliest plant". sfchronicle.com. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  14. "Arctostaphylos montana ssp. ravenii Calflora". www.calflora.org. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  15. "Raven's Manzanita – Presidio of San Francisco (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  16. Kell, Gretchen (8 February 1995). "Researching The Last Manzanita". University of California Berkeley. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  17. "FLEMING GARDEN, Berkeley, California" (PDF). loc.gov. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  18. "The Presidio's Miracle Manzanita -". baynature.org. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  19. "Franciscan Manzanita (Arctostaphylos franciscana) – Yerba Buena Chapter – CNPS". cnps-yerbabuena.org. 5 March 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  20. "Pioneer stock". hcn.org. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  21. "Doyle Drive Transplanting Manzanita Bush". Caltrans. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
  22. "Tracing the roots of a rare shrub". sfgate.com. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  23. "Plants Profile for Arctostaphylos hookeri franciscana (Franciscan manzanita)". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  24. http://www.presidioparkway.org/project_docs/files/FranciscanManzanitaPressRelease.pdf
  25. https://www.fws.gov/sacramento/outreach/2011/09-07/Documents/Q&A-final-Fran%20Man%2012-month.pdf
  26. Project, Western Neighborhods. "Streetwise: Abbey Patio". outsidelands.org. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  27. "Mysterious Manzanita Baffles Homeowners" Part 1 San Francisco Chronicle, authors Ron Sullivan, Joe Eaton, Wednesday, 7 May 2008. Note that this is not Presidio manzanita but an as yet unclassified species!
  28. "City takes the case of mystery manzanita". sfgate.com. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  29. "Singular manzanita gains protection". sfgate.com. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  30. "Reclaiming Laurel Hill Park for native plants". sfgate.com. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  31. http://userwww.sfsu.edu/parker/PresidioDrft3.2.doc
  32. "Manzanita Charms Bay Area Terrain: Native Plants through a Modern Lens at Madroño". Madrono.org. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  33. Hogan, C. Michael (2012). "Arctostaphylos". In McGinley, M. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Earth. Washington, DC: National Council for Science and the Environment.
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