Arctostaphylos morroensis is a species of manzanita known by the common name Morro manzanita. This shrub is endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, where it is known only from the vicinity of Morro Bay.
| Arctostaphylos morroensis | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Arctostaphylos |
| Species: | A. morroensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Arctostaphylos morroensis | |
Distribution
editThere are 18 occurrences of the Arctostaphylos morroensis plant, and it is abundant in some local areas.[2] It is limited to a specific type of substrate known as "Baywood fine sands", a type of sandy soil which originated in the Pleistocene as windblown sand dunes.[3] The plant is found on less than 900 acres of coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitat, sometimes forming monotypic stands on hillsides.[3]
Two thirds of its habitat is privately owned, some of it is slated for development, and its habitat requirements are narrow; these and other problems led to the plant's being listed as a threatened species in 1994.[3] Some of the plants are protected within Montaña de Oro State Park.[3]
Description
editArctostaphylos morroensis is a spreading shrub, reaching up to 4 meters in height but generally staying wider than tall. It has shreddy red-gray bark and whiskery bristles on the smaller branches and twigs. The leaves are oval-shaped and slightly convex, dark green on the upper surface and duller gray-green beneath. Plentiful flowers hang in dense clusters on short pedicels during the winter months. They are usually very light pink, urn-shaped, and hairy inside. The fruits are fuzzy red drupes each about a centimeter wide.
Cultivation
editThe Arctostaphylos morroensis plant is cultivated as a landscaping ornamental plant, for California native plant, drought tolerant, and natural habitat gardens.
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Bark -
Leaves and fruit -
Leaves and fruit
References
edit- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
- ^ The Nature Conservancy
- ^ a b c d USFWS. Endangered or threatened status for five plants and the Morro Shoulderband Snail from western San Luis Obispo County, California. Federal Register December 15, 1994.
External links
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Media related to Arctostaphylos morroensis at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Arctostaphylos morroensis at Wikispecies- Jepson Manual Treatment — Arctostaphylos morroensis
- USDA Plants Profile for Arctostaphylos morroensis (Morro manzanita)
- Arctostaphylos morroensis — U.C. Photo gallery
- Federal Conservation Status & Recovery Plan
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