Arctostaphylos auriculata
Encyclopedia
Arctostaphylos auriculata (Mount Diablo Manzanita) is an endangered species
of Arctostaphylos
endemic to California
, and limited in geography to the area surrounding Mount Diablo, in Contra Costa County.
1-4.5 m high with serpentine, glandless stems covered in white hair. The short [1.5-4.5 cm], silvery leaves
overlap and have deeply lobed bases. It flowers densely in white February through May. The fruit
is also hairy and small (5-10 mm). The Mount Diablo Manzanita has no basal burl for regrowth and must propagate by seed.
or California wild grapes
.
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of Arctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos is a genus of plants comprised by the manzanitas and bearberries. They are shrubs or small trees.There are about 60 species of Arctostaphylos, ranging from ground-hugging arctic, coastal, and mountain species to small trees up to 6 m tall. Most are evergreen , with small oval...
endemic to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and limited in geography to the area surrounding Mount Diablo, in Contra Costa County.
Description
Arctostaphylos auriculata is a woody shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
1-4.5 m high with serpentine, glandless stems covered in white hair. The short [1.5-4.5 cm], silvery leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
overlap and have deeply lobed bases. It flowers densely in white February through May. The fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
is also hairy and small (5-10 mm). The Mount Diablo Manzanita has no basal burl for regrowth and must propagate by seed.
Distribution
Growing in sandstone chaparral around 150-650 meter elevation, the thick undergrowth of Mount Diablo Manzanita is often accompanied by poison oakPoison oak
Poison oak may refer to* Toxicodendron diversilobum, grows on West Coast of North America* Toxicodendron pubescens, grows in the Eastern United Statesdamnnnnn tissss is terribleee...
or California wild grapes
Vitis californica
Vitis californica is a wild grape species native to most of California and southwestern Oregon. It is a deciduous vine which can grow to over 10 m in length. It climbs on other plants or covers the ground with twisted, woody ropes of vine covered in green leaves...
.
See also
- California chaparral and woodlandsCalifornia chaparral and woodlandsThe California chaparral and woodlands is a terrestrial ecoregion of lower northern, central, and southern California and northwestern Baja California , located on the west coast of North America...
- California montane chaparral and woodlandsCalifornia montane chaparral and woodlandsThe California montane chaparral and woodlands ecoregion covers , including the mountains of the Transverse, Peninsular, and Santa Lucia Ranges of California. It is part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers...
- California interior chaparral and woodlandsCalifornia interior chaparral and woodlandsThe California interior chaparral and woodlands ecoregion covers in an elliptical ring around the California Central Valley. It occurs on hills and mountains ranging from to . It is part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers...