Arctostaphylos luciana

Arctostaphylos luciana is a species of manzanita known by the common name Santa Lucia manzanita, is endemic to California.[2]

Arctostaphylos luciana

Imperiled  (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. luciana
Binomial name
Arctostaphylos luciana
P.V.Wells

Distribution

The woody plant is endemic to the southern Santa Lucia Mountains, in San Luis Obispo County.[3][4]

It grows in coastal sage scrub chaparral habitats, on shale outcrops and slopes, from 100–800 metres (330–2,620 ft) in elevation.[2][4] It is found growing on ocean facing slopes in the upper boundary of the marine layer.[2]

Description

Arctostaphylos luciana is a shrub or small multi-trunked tree growing 2–3 metres (6.6–9.8 ft) in height.[2][4]

Its leaves are glaucous−gray, waxy and woolly to smooth and hairless, with smooth edges. They are base lobed (articulate), rounded to oval in shape, 1.5–2.5 centimetres (0.59–0.98 in) wide and 2–4 centimetres (0.79–1.57 in) long.[2][4]

The inflorescence is a cluster of pink and white, hairless, urn-shaped and downward facing "manzanita" flowers. The bloom period is from February to March.[4]

The fruit is a red to green-red drupe, up to 1.2 centimetres (0.47 in) wide.[4]

Conservation

The species is listed on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants as a fairly endangered and vulnerable species.[5] Some populations are protected within the southern Cuesta Ridge Botanical Special Interest Area of the Los Padres National Forest.[6]

See also

References
  1. "NatureServe Explorer 2.0".
  2. "Field Guide to Manzanitas," Michael Kauffmann, Tom Parker, & Michael Vasey, Backcountry Press, 2015, ISBN 978-1-941624-02-9, page 77.
  3. Calflora: Distribution map.
  4. Jepson Flora Project (eds.) 2014. Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html — Arctostaphylos luciana' . accessed 15 January 2016.
  5. CNPS, Rare Plant Program. 2016. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants (online edition, v8-02). California Native Plant Society, Sacramento, CA. — Arctostaphylos luciana . accessed 1.16.2016.
  6. Los Padres National Forest: Cuesta Ridge Botanical Special Interest Area


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