Arctostaphylos obispoensis

Arctostaphylos obispoensis is a species of manzanita, known by the common names bishop manzanita and serpentine manzanita, endemic to California.[2]

Arctostaphylos obispoensis

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Arctostaphylos
Species:
A. obispoensis
Binomial name
Arctostaphylos obispoensis

Distribution

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The plant is endemic to the southern Santa Lucia Mountains, in the Central Coast region of California.[2] It is found primarily in San Luis Obispo County, and extends into southern Monterey County.[2][3]

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).[4]

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.[5] The species is listed on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants as a rare but not currently endangered species.[6]

Description

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Arctostaphylos obispoensis is an upright shrub or multi-trunked tree growing to 1–4 metres (3.3–13.1 ft) in height.[2][4]

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.[4]

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.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer - Arctostaphylos obispoensis". NatureServe Explorer Arctostaphylos obispoensis. NatureServe. 2022-05-30. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Field Guide to Manzanitas," Michael Kauffmann, Tom Parker, & Michael Vasey, Backcountry Press, 2015, ISBN 978-1-941624-02-9, page 98.
  3. ^ Calflora: Distribution map
  4. ^ a b c d Jepson
  5. ^ Los Padres National Forest: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Special Interest Area
  6. ^ 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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