When was Arctostaphylos manzanita subsp. elegans created?

elegans, also known as the Konocti manzanita, is a subspecies of the Common manzanita. It is endemic to California. It was originally described at the rank of species as Arctostaphylos elegans in 1893 by Willis Linn Jepson.

1. Where is manzanita found?
2. Is manzanita a fire hazard?
3. Is all manzanita protected in California?
4. Why is Manzanita red?
5. What does Manzanita smell like?
6. Why does Manzanita bark peel?
7. Are Manzanita berries edible?
8. Who eats Manzanita?
9. Does manzanita make good firewood?
10. Do mule deer eat manzanita?
11. How long do manzanita trees live?
12. Can I cut manzanita on my property in California?
13. Is it legal to cut down manzanita in California?
14. Why are Arctostaphylos pallida endangered?

Where is manzanita found?

They are evergreen shrubs or small trees present in the chaparral biome of western North America, where they occur from Southern British Columbia and Washington to Oregon, California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the United States, and throughout Mexico.

Is manzanita a fire hazard?

Manzanita. A gorgeous shrub laden with pendant flowers come spring, the manzanita is one of the West's best fire-resistant plants. ... In the garden, the leaves of full-grown specimens will quickly burn in a fire, leaving the green wood of the shrub untouched.

Is all manzanita protected in California?

Presidio manzanita is a California endangered plant species, which means that killing or possessing plants from wild populations is prohibited by the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The species is also listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Why is Manzanita red?

According to Sherwin Carlquist, an expert on wood anatomy in California native plants, the rich, reddish coloration of manzanitas—which varies among species from orange to mahogany to dark purple—comes from tannins (and other compounds) manufactured by, and deposited in, the cells of its exterior bark.

What does Manzanita smell like?

When the plant starts to flower, you can really see its resemblance to it's cousin the blueberry. The flowers are small pink or white urn-shaped bells and they smell like sweet thick honey. Early in the season, I like to munch on the flowers for a little sweetness as I'm searching for other goodies.

Why does Manzanita bark peel?

The mature bark naturally peels away in thin sheets, leaving very smooth bark. By peeling each year, Manzanita jettisons any fungi, parasites, lichens and mosses that have managed to adhere. But in addition, glandular secretions make bark remarkably slippery, which is an effective defense against crawling insects.

Are Manzanita berries edible?

You'll find these bushes growing in great profusion in the Sierra Nevada of California, but various species will grow as far north as British Columbia and as far east as Texas. They are, for the most part, lovers of arid places. It doesn't matter which species you come across—all manzanita berries are edible.

Who eats Manzanita?

Manzanita produce seeds every year. Animals that eat the seeds are the main source of dispersing them. The fruits are eaten by coyotes, foxes, and many species of birds. The foliage is not eaten by deer except during hard winters.

Does manzanita make good firewood?

It's an intense firewood species, but when used with caution it can make excellent firewood. Manzanita also produces a good flavor for smoking foods or BBQ. ... The reason that manzanita burns so hot is because the more dense a wood is, the hotter they usually burn. Manzanita is one of the most dense woods in the world.

Do mule deer eat manzanita?

Common manzanita is a poor browse species [6,10,52,62], but various birds, rodents, mule deer, and American black bear eat its fruit [15,62,73]. ... In oak woodland winter range, the foliage may be eaten when young plants grow in an "open manner" and mule deer can access the leaves.

How long do manzanita trees live?

Since they are western species, manzanitas have to be adapted to fire. Some species form a burl at the base that resprouts after a fire. Some of these species can live to be 1,000 years old.

Can I cut manzanita on my property in California?

After some poking around on the net I learned that it is indeed illegal to gather, cut, or burn manzy from national parks without a permit. If you gather from private property, that is ok with permission from the owner. Why is this? Turns out, many kinds of Manzanita are very rare and endangered.

Is it legal to cut down manzanita in California?

California Penal Code Section 384a a person shall not willfully or negligently cut, destroy, mutilate, or remove plant material that is growing upon state or county highway rights-of-way.

Why are Arctostaphylos pallida endangered?

Additionally, this species is threatened by the use of goat grazing by the City of Oakland to reduce wildfire fuel loads, and is vulnerable to inbreeding depression and stochastic events due to its small number of populations.