Arctostaphylos pilosula

Arctostaphylos pilosula is a species of manzanita, known by the common names La Panza manzanita and Santa Margarita manzanita, that is endemic to California.[1][2]

Arctostaphylos pilosula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Ericales
Family:
Ericaceae
Genus:
Arctostaphylos
Species:
A. pilosula
Binomial name
Arctostaphylos pilosula
Jeps. & Wies. ex Jeps.

Its common names comes from populations on the La Panza Range, near the town of Santa Margarita.[1]

Distribution

The plant is endemic San Luis Obispo County, found in three areas: the La Panza Range, the east slope of the Santa Lucia Mountains near Atascadero, and in the San Luis Range near Pismo Beach.[1]

It grows in chaparral and closed-cone pine forest habitatss, on shale and sandstone outcrops and slopes. It is found at elevations of 30–1,250 metres (98–4,101 ft).[1][2]

Description

Arctostaphylos pilosula is an erect and bristly shrub growing 1–5 metres (3.3–16.4 ft) in height.[1][2]

The leaves are a round, oval shape and dull and hairless in texture. They grow up to 3 centimetres (1.2 in) long.[2]

The shrub blooms in spherical white inflorescences of cone-shaped and downward facing "manzanita" flowers, each just under 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long. Its bloom period is December to March.[2]

The fruit is a reddish-brown drupe about a centimeter wide, that ripen in the summer.[2]

Conservation

The species is listed on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants as a fairly endangered and vulnerable species.[3]

References
  1. "Field Guide to Manzanitas," Michael Kauffmann, Tom Parker, & Michael Vasey, Backcountry Press, 2015, ISBN 978-1-941624-02-9, page 113.
  2. V. Thomas Parker, Michael C. Vasey & Jon E. Keeley 2014. Arctostaphylos pilosula, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora. accessed 15 January 2016.
  3. CNPS, Rare Plant Program. 2016. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02). California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. — Arctostaphylos luciana. accessed 1.16.2016.
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