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
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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

References

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