Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center

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Manzanita

Arctostaphylos

There are many species of manzanita (genus Arctostaphylos) native to the Klamath-Siskiyou region.  Manzanitas are evergreen shrubs, they typically have smooth red bark that peels and flakes off like Madrone bark. Manzanitas sport  rounded symmetrical leaves, they range in color from gray to bright green and often have a waxy texture. The size of manzanitas varies widely with the species, they can be as small as two inches tall or as large as 20 feet high. Their flowers are small urn shaped white or pink blooms and they produce small rounded fruit in a verity of warm colors–brown, red, orange, and maroon. The fruit serves as a food source for birds and other creatures. These shrubs are resilient and drought tolerant, making them perfect for the hot dry summers of the Klamath-Siskiyou. Manzanitas' mycorrhizal nature, meaning they have symbiotic connections to fungi, aide them in surviving harsh conditions because they have alternate sources of nutrients through their relationships with fungi.

Manzanita greenleaf (Arctostaphylos patula) is native to western North America and is often found in conifer forests ranging from moderate to high elevations. They have typical manzanita flowers and dark brown fruits that are consumed by birds and large mammals. The shrub's seeds are distributed by the creature that eat them, but the seeds need to experience fire followed by cold to germinate so they often lie dormant for many years.

 

Sources:

wikipedia 

http://www.pacifichorticulture.org/articles/arctostaphylos-for-pacific-northwest-gardens/

http://www.laspilitas.com/groups/manzanita_arctostaphylos/Manzanita.html