glossyleaf manzanita
Arctostaphylos nummularia

Family: Ericaceae.

Type: Evergreen shrub.

Branching: Alternate.

Leaves: Simple and entire, and broader towards the base. The upper surface is dark green and shiny, but the undersurface can be hirsute, particularly along the midrib.

Twig: Young stems are reddish and hirsute. The older stems of manzanitas have a very distinctive orange-red color, and peel away in shavings.

Fruit & Flower: The fruit look similar to that of the evergreen huckleberry (like a small blueberry, in other words), but are green.

Miscellaneous: Manzanitas are related to the huckleberry we saw earlier. There are two reproductive strategies common in manzanitas, both fire-dependent: some resprout from burls at their base after fire passes, while others depend upon fire for germination of their seeds. The glossyleaf manzanita does not have a burl; it therefore germinates after fire. This is a distinguishing characteristic.





All photos and text ©2008 Ben Haller. Permission is granted to use and reproduce these photos for any non-commercial or non-profit use as long as this original copyright notice is retained.