Arctostaphylos pacifica
1B.1 (CNPS)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Arctostaphylos
Species:
A. pacifica
Binomial name
Arctostaphylos pacifica
Roof
Synonyms[2]
  • Arctostaphylos uva-ursi var. saxicola Roof

Arctostaphylos pacifica, the Pacific manzanita, is a threatened species of manzanita endemic to San Bruno Mountain described by James B. Roof in 1962.[3]

Description

Arctostaphylos pacifica is a short burl forming species of manzanita that grows in mats on the sandstone outcrops of San Bruno Mountain at elevations of 300m. Specimens grow to 10–60 cm in height,[4] the bark of the plant is an unusual light brown color compared to the red hue of other Manzanitas, the serrate leaves are pastel green and densely fill the branches.[3] The plant uses ligno-tubers for clonal reproduction, which allowed for the species to survive the 1964 Devil's Arroyo fire that burned San Bruno Mountain, enabling plants to resprout from the reproductive burls.[5]

Etymology

Roof gave the species the epithet of pacifica as he believed that it "represented a relic link between three maritime species of manzanita that occur on California's Pacific Littoral".[3]

Taxonomy

Arctostaphylos pacifica was at one time demoted to hybrid status, however morphological evidence along with the absence of one proposed parent species on San Bruno Mountain led to its elevation back to species rank.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Arctostaphylos pacifica". rareplants.cnps.org. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
  2. ↑ "Arctostaphylos pacifica". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Roof, James B.; Howell, John Thomas; Eastwood, Alice (1959). Leaflets of western botany. Vol. v.9 1959–1962. San Fransisco: [J. T. Howell]. pp. 217–218.
  4. ↑ "Arctostaphylos pacifica". ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  5. ↑ Nelson, David L.; Allshouse, Douglas. "The Endemic Manzanitas of San Bruno Mountain". Bay Nature. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  6. ↑ Parker, V. Thomas; Vasey, Michael C.; Keeley, Jon E. (April 2007). "Taxonomic Revisions in the Genus Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae)". Madroño. 54 (2): 148–155. doi:10.3120/0024-9637(2007)54[148:TRITGA]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0024-9637. S2CID 43442173.
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