Arctostaphylos
| Arctostaphylos | |
|---|---|
| |
| Whiteleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Subfamily: | Arbutoideae |
| Genus: | Arctostaphylos Adanson |
| Type species | |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | |
| Species | |
|
About 90, see text. | |
Arctostaphylos (/ˌɑːrktoʊˈstæfɪləs, -lɒs/; from ἄρκτος árktos "bear" and σταφυλή staphulḗ "bunch of grapes") is a genus of plants within the family Ericaceae.[1] Many plants within the genus Arctostaphylos are also commonly called manzanitas(/ˌmænzəˈniːtəz/) or bearberries.[2] There are 107 taxa within Arctostaphylos, 106 of which are found in the California Floristic Province.[3] From prostrate shrubs to small erect trees, Arctostaphylos are known for their characteristic red bark and urn-shaped flowers.[1]
Description
Stem - Usually red-stemmed, Arctostaphylos can range from completely smooth to grey-shreddy bark. In some species, stems can be found with tomentum, or hairs.[1]
Burls or lignotubers are an enlarged stem base or root crown carrying dormant buds for resprouting post disturbance.[4] About to ⅓ of all species are Burl formers.[3] Burls can be used to help identify down to the species level.[1]
Leaves - Tending to grow alternately, all Arctostaphylos species are evergreen.[1] A common step to help better identify down to the species level is by examining leaf surfaces.[1]
For example, Arctostaphylos tomentosa has stomata only abaxially, while Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. glandulosa is bifacial, having similar surfaces on the top and bottom sides of the leaf.[1]
Flowers - A characteristic feature of Arctostaphylos is its urn-like flowers.[1] The corolla is usually composed of 5 fused petals.[1] These flowers are very common in the clade Arbutoideae.[5]
Fruit - Classified as a drupe,[1] Arctostaphylos fruit is commonly spheric.[1] The seeds found within the mealy mesocarp are often called stones.[1]
Distribution
The majority of Arctostaphylos species can be found within the California floristic province.[3] One species, however, A. uva-ursi (common bearberry), is adapted to arctic and subarctic climates and has a circumpolar distribution in northern North America, Asia and Europe.[5]
An unusual association of manzanita occurs on Hood Mountain, in Sonoma County, California, where stands of pygmy forest dominated by Hesperocyparis sargentii are found.
Origin and evolution
Arctostaphylos falls within the Arbutoideae subfamily along with Arbutus, Arctous, Comarostaphylis, Ornithostaphylos, and Xylococcus.[5]
Arctostaphylos is the most diverse genus within this clade.[3] The complex permutation of modern flora can be attributed to the change from the Cretaceous to the Tertiary.[6] During the Oligocene geologic uplift and an altering climate restricted a majority of the group arbutoideae to western North America.[6] Post Pleistocene, the growing changes in the edaphos along with climatic shifts and the incredibly unique topography within California, caused dramatic speciation, specifically within the genus Arctostaphylos.[5]
Ecology and fire
Arctostaphylos can usually can be found on sites with poor soil. Mycorrhizal fungi are a large reason this genus can tolerate low nutrient conditions.[3] Many of California's shrublands experience a high intensity fire regime which habitually burn completely through stands of Manzanitas.[3] Many chaparral species have developed certain adaptations to persist post fire.[3]
One way manzanitas persist is through seed banks. Seed banks are characteristic of all species within Arctostaphylos.[7] Manzanitas have seed that is dispersed in a dormant stage, only germinating post fire due to chemicals found in smoke.[3] Obligate seeders lack a lignotuber/burl and are killed by fire. In contrast, Facultative-seeders or Burl formers resprout after fire.[8] Most species are obligate seeders, and population survival depends on post-fire recruitment.[7] It is known that rodent caches are crucial to the development of the seed bank.[7]
Arctostaphylos species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora arctostaphyli (which feeds exclusively on A.uva-ursi) and Coleophora glaucella.
Fossil record
One fossil fruit of †Arctostaphylos globula and several fossil fruits of †Arctostaphylos menzelii have been described from middle Miocene strata of the Fasterholt area near Silkeborg in Central Jutland, Denmark.[9]
Cultivation
Cultivation is generally difficult due to fungal diseases, and often salinity and alkalinity. Overhead watering should be avoided in hot weather. Some cultivars are easier to grow.
Taxonomy
| Species | Common name | Species | Common Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. andersonii | Santa Cruz Manzanita | A. pacifica | Pacific Manzanita |
| A. auriculata | Mount Diablo Manzanita | A. pajaroensis | Pajaro Manzanita |
| A. australis | Baja Manzanita | A. pallida | Alameda Manzanita |
| A. bakeri subsp. bakeri | Baker’s Manzanita | A. parryana subsp. parryana | Parry’s Manzanita |
| A. bakeri subsp. sublaevis | The Cedars Manzanita | A. parryana subsp. desertica | Desert Manzanita |
| A. bolensis | Bola Manzanita | A. parryana subsp. tumescens | Interior Manzanita |
| A. canescens subsp. canescens | Hoary Manzanita | ||
| A. canescens subsp. sonomensis | Sonoma Canescent Manzanita | ||
| A. catalinae | Catalina Island Manzanita | ||
| A. columbiana | Columbia Manzanita | ||
| A. confertifolia | Santa Rosa Island Manzanita | ||
| A. crustacea subsp. crustacea | Brittleleaf Manzanita | ||
| A. crustacea subsp. crinita | Crinite Manzanita | ||
| A. crustacea subsp. eastwoodiana | Eastwood’s Brittleleaf Manzanita | ||
| A. crustacea subsp. rosei | Rose’s Manzanita | ||
| A. crustacea subsp. insulicola | Island Manzanita | ||
| A. crustacea subsp. subcordata | Santa Cruz Island Manzanita | ||
| A. cruzensis | Arroyo De La Cruz Manzanita | ||
| A. densiflora | Vine Hill Manzanita | ||
| A. edmundsii | Little Sur Manzanita | ||
| A. franciscana | Franciscan Manzanita | ||
| A. gabilanensis | Gabilan Manzanita | ||
| A. glandulosa subsp. glandulosa | Eastwood’s Manzanita | ||
| A. glandulosa subsp. adamsii | Adam’s Manzanita | ||
| A. glandulosa subsp. atumescens | Punta Banda Manzanita | ||
| A. glandulosa subsp. crassifolia | Del Mar Manzanita | ||
| A. glandulosa subsp. cushingiana | Cushing’s Manzanita | ||
| A. glandulosa subsp. erecta | Pedregoso’s Manzanita | ||
| A. glandulosa subsp. gabrielensis | San Gabriel Manzanita | ||
| A. glandulosa subsp. howellii | Howell’s Manzanita | ||
| A. glandulosa subsp. leucophylla | Whiteleafed Manzanita | ||
| A. glandulosa subsp. mollis | Transverse Range Manzanita | ||
| A. glauca | Bigberry Manzanita | ||
| A. glutinosa | Schreiber’s Manzanita | ||
| A. hispidula | Gasquet Manzanita | ||
| A. hookeri subsp. hearstiorum | Hearst’s Manzanita | ||
| A. hookeri subsp. hookeri | Hooker’s Manzanita | ||
| A. hooveri | Hoover Manzanita | ||
| A. imbricata | San Bruno Mountain Manzanita | ||
| A. incognita | Incognito Manzanita | ||
| A. insularis | Santa Cruz Island Manzanita | ||
| A. klamathenis | Klamath Manzanita | ||
| A. luciana | Santa Lucia Manzanita | ||
| A. malloryi | Mallory’s Manzanita | ||
| A. manzanita subsp. manzanita | Common Manzanita | ||
| A. manzanita subsp. elegans | Konocti Manzanita | ||
| A. manzanita subsp. glaucescens | Glaucous Manzanita | ||
| A. manzanita subsp. laevigata | Contra Costa Manzanita | ||
| A. manzanita subsp. roofii | Roof’s Manzanita | ||
| A. manzanita subsp. wieslanderi | Wieslander’s Manzanita | ||
| A. mewukka subsp. mewukka | Indian Manzanita | ||
| A. mewukka subsp. truei | True’s Manzanita | ||
| A. montana subsp. montana | Mount Tamalpais Manzanita | ||
| A. montana subsp. ravenii | Presidio Manzanita | ||
| A. montaraensis | Montara Mountain Manzanita | ||
| A. montereyensis | Monterey Manzanita | ||
| A. moranii | Moran’s Manzanita | ||
| A. morroensis | Morro Manzanita | ||
| A. myrtifolia | Ione Manzanita | ||
| A. nevadensis subsp. nevadensis | Pine Mat Manzanita | ||
| A. nevadensis subsp. knightii | Knight’s Pine Mat Manzanita | ||
| A. nissenana | El Dorado Manzanita | ||
| A. nortensis | Del Norte Manzanita | ||
| A. nummularia subsp. nummularia | Glossyleaf Manzanita | ||
| A. nummularia subsp. mendocinoensis | Pygmy Manzanita | ||
| A. obispoensis | Bishop Manzanita | ||
| A. ohloneana | Ohlone Manzanita | ||
| A. osoensis | Oso Manzanita | ||
| A. otayensis | Otay Manzanita |
A. patula
subsp. patula - Greenleaf Manzanita
subsp. gankinii - Gankin’s manzanita
A. pechoensis - Pecho Manzanita
A. peninsularis
subsp. peninsularis - Peninsula Manzanita
subsp. juarzensis - Sierra Juarez Manzanita
A. pilosula - Santa Margarita Manzanita
A. pringlei
subsp. pringlei - Pinkbract Manzanita
subsp. drupacea - California Pinkbract Manzanita
A. pumila - Sandmat Manzanita
A. pungens - Mexican Manzanita
A. purissima
subsp. purissima - La Purisima Manzanita
subsp. globosa - Globose Manzanita
A. rainbowensis - Rainbow Manzanita
A. refugioensis - Refugio Manzanita
A. regismontana - King’s Mountain Manzanita
A. rudis - Sand Mesa Manzanita
A. sensitiva - Coinleaf Manzanita
A. silvicola - Bonny Doon Manzanita
A. stanfordiana
subsp. stanfordiana - Stanford’s Manzanita
subsp. decumbens - Rincon Ridge Manzanita
subsp. raichei - Raiche’s Manzanita
A. tomentosa
subsp. tomentosa - Woolyleaf Manzanita
subsp. bracteosa - Glandular Woolyleaf Manzanita
subsp. daciticola - Dacite Manzanita
subsp. hebeclada - Explorer’s Manzanita
A. uva-ursi
subsp. uva-ursi - Bearberry or Kinnikinnick
subsp. cratericola - Guatemala Bearberry
A. virgata - Marin Manzanita
A. viridissima - White-haired Manzanita
A. viscida
subsp. viscida - Whiteleaf Manzanita
subsp. mariposa - Mariposa Manzanita
subsp. pulchella - Coast Whiteleaf Manzanita
Ranges
- Subgenus Micrococcus
- Sect. Micrococcus
| Species | Common name | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Arctostaphylos mendocinoensis | Pygmy manzanita | |
| Arctostaphylos myrtifolia | Ione manzanita | California (Amador, Calaveras Counties) |
| Arctostaphylos nissenana | Nissenan manzanita | California (coastal and inland ranges north of San Francisco Bay) |
| Arctostaphylos nummularia | Glossyleaf manzanita | California (Mendocino County) |
- Subgenus Arctostaphylos, which has three sections:
- Sect. Arctostaphylos
| Species | Common name | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Arctostaphylos alpina | Alpine bearberry | |
| Arctostaphylos bakeri | Baker's manzanita | California (Sonoma County) |
| Arctostaphylos densiflora | Sonoma manzanita | California (Sonoma County) |
| Arctostaphylos edmundsii | Little Sur manzanita | California (Monterey County) |
| Arctostaphylos franciscana | Franciscan manzanita | California (San Francisco County) |
| Arctostaphylos gabrielensis | San Gabriel manzanita | California (Los Angeles County) |
| Arctostaphylos glauca | Bigberry manzanita | California and Baja California |
| Arctostaphylos hispidula | Gasquet manzanita | Coastal mountain ranges of southern Oregon and northern California |
| Arctostaphylos hookeri | Hooker's manzanita | California |
| Arctostaphylos insularis | Island manzanita | California (Santa Cruz Island) |
| Arctostaphylos klamathensis | Klamath manzanita | California (Klamath Mountains) |
| Arctostaphylos manzanita | Common manzanita, whiteleaf manzanita | California (Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada foothills) |
| Arctostaphylos mewukka | Indian manzanita | California (Sierra Nevada) |
| Arctostaphylos nevadensis | Pinemat manzanita | California |
| Arctostaphylos parryana | Parry manzanita | California (southern) |
| Arctostaphylos patula | Greenleaf manzanita | Western North America |
| Arctostaphylos pumila | Sandmat manzanita | California (Monterey County) |
| Arctostaphylos pungens | Pointleaf manzanita | Southwestern United States and to northern and central Mexico |
| Arctostaphylos rudis | Shagbark manzanita | California (southern central coast) |
| Arctostaphylos stanfordiana | Stanford's manzanita | California (Outer North Coast Ranges north of the San Francisco Bay Area) |
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Bearberry | Europe, Asia, North America |
| Arctostaphylos viscida | Sticky manzanita, whiteleaf manzanita | California and Oregon |
- Sect. Foliobracteata
- Sect. Pictobracteata
| Species | Common name | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Arctostaphylos pringlei | Pringle manzanita |
- Unassigned
| Species | Common name | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Arctostaphylos rainbowensis | Rainbow manzanita | |
| Arctostaphylos gabilanensis | Gabilan manzanita | |
| Arctostaphylos ohloneana | Ohlone manzanita |
See also the closely related genus Comarostaphylis, previously often included in Arctostaphylos.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l V. Thomas Parker, Michael C. Vasey & Jon E. Keeley 2023, Arctostaphylos, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, Revision 12, https://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=9173, accessed on February 07, 2026.
- ^ "Arctostaphylos (Manzanita) Evaluation in Western Oregon". horticulture.oregonstate.edu. 2017-05-10. Retrieved 2026-02-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hall, Brett (2022-04-21). "Field guide to Manzanitas: California, North America, and Mexico, second edition". Madroño. 69 (1). doi:10.3120/0024-9637-69.1.135. ISSN 0024-9637.
- ^ James, Susanne (1984). "Lignotubers and Burls: Their Structure, Function and Ecological Significance in Mediterranean Ecosystems". Botanical Review. 50 (3): 225–266. ISSN 0006-8101.
- ^ a b c d Hileman, L. C., Vasey, M. C., & Thomas, P. V. (2001). Phylogeny and Biogeography of the Arbutoideae (Ericaceae): Implications for the MadreanTethyan Hypothesis. Systematic Botany, 26(1), 131–143. JSTOR. https://doi.org/10.2307/2666660
- ^ a b Tiffney, Bruce H. (1985). "The Eocene North Atlantic Land Bridge: Its Importance in Tertiary and Modern Phytogeography of the Northern Hemisphere". Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. 66 (2): 243–273. ISSN 0004-2625.
- ^ a b c Crowe, R., & V. Thomas Parker. (2023). The morphological and ecological variation of Arctostaphylos (Ericaceae) fruit: A link between plant ecology and animal foraging behavior. Ecology and Evolution, 13(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9801
- ^ VERDAGUER, D., & OJEDA, F. (2005). Evolutionary Transition from Resprouter to Seeder Life History in Two Erica (Ericaceae) Species: Insights from Seedling Axillary Buds. Annals of Botany, 95(4), 593–599. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci061
- ^ Friis, Else Marie (1985). "Angiosperm fruits and seeds from the Middle Miocene of Jutland (Denmark)" (PDF). Det Kongelige Danske Videnskaberne Selskab, Biologiske Skrifter. 24 (3): 1–165.
- ^ Hall, Brett (2022-04-21). "Field guide to Manzanitas: California, North America, and Mexico, second edition". Madroño. 69 (1). doi:10.3120/0024-9637-69.1.135. ISSN 0024-9637.
Further reading
- Hickman, James C. (1993), The Jepson Manual: higher plants of California, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: University of California Press, ISBN 0-520-082559
- Hogan, C. Michael (2012), "Arctostaphylos", in McGinley, M.; C. J. Cleveland (eds.), Encyclopedia of Earth, National Council for Science and the Environment
- Kauffmann, Michael; Parker, Tom; Vasey, Michael; Bisbee, Jeff (2021-07-29), Field Guide to Manzanitas: California, North America, and Mexico (2nd ed.), Backcountry Press, ISBN 978-1941624159
- Treatment from the Jepson Manual
- Wells, Philip V. (2000), Manzanitas of California, Lawrence, Kansas: University of Kansas, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, ISBN 0-933994-22-2
- Wells, Philip V. (1992). "Subgenera and sections of Arctostaphylos". The Four Seasons. 9: 64–69.