Arctostaphylos klamathensis
Encyclopedia
Arctostaphylos klamathensis, with the common name Klamath manzanita, is a species of manzanita
. It is endemic to the Klamath Mountains
of far northern California
, where it was first described during an ecological survey in Cedar Basin near the border between Siskiyou
and Trinity Counties
in 1982.
is a rounded cluster of manzanita flowers, and it bears spherical drupe
s with seeds fused into a single hard body.
plant community, where it is the dominant shrub
in some spots.
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...
. It is endemic to the Klamath Mountains
Klamath Mountains
The Klamath Mountains, which include the Siskiyou, Marble, Scott, Trinity, Trinity Alps, Salmon, and northern Yolla-Bolly Mountains, are a rugged lightly populated mountain range in northwest California and southwest Oregon in the United States...
of far northern 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...
, where it was first described during an ecological survey in Cedar Basin near the border between Siskiyou
Siskiyou County, California
Siskiyou County is a county located in the far northernmost part of the U.S. state of California, in the Shasta Cascade region on the Oregon border. Yreka is the county seat. Because of its substantial natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and Gold Rush era history, it is an important...
and Trinity Counties
Trinity County, California
Trinity County is a large, rugged and mountainous, heavily forested county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of California, along the Trinity River and within the Salmon/Klamath Mountains. It covers an area of over two million acres , and as of the 2010 census its population...
in 1982.
Description
The Arctostaphylos klamathensis is a low-lying, matted shrub forming tangles and mounds no taller than one half meter. Its foliage and twigs are coated with glandular bristles. The leaves are dull, rough, and up to 3.5 centimeters long. The inflorescenceInflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is a rounded cluster of manzanita flowers, and it bears spherical drupe
Drupe
In botany, a drupe is a fruit in which an outer fleshy part surrounds a shell of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. These fruits develop from a single carpel, and mostly from flowers with superior ovaries...
s with seeds fused into a single hard body.
Habitat
Arctostaphylos klamathensis is a resident of open areas in the forest and the local mountain chaparralChaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
plant community, where it is the dominant shrub
Shrub
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...
in some spots.