Indian manzanita facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arctostaphylos mewukkaIndian manzanita |
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| ssp. truei | |
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A. mewukka
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| Arctostaphylos mewukka Merriam
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Arctostaphylos mewukka is a type of plant called a manzanita. People often call it the Indian manzanita. It's a special kind of shrub that grows in certain parts of California.
What it Looks Like
The Indian manzanita is a shrub. It usually grows to be about 1 to 4 meters tall. That's like standing next to a small car or a tall basketball hoop! This plant is mostly smooth and doesn't have many hairs. Sometimes, it has a big, lumpy growth at its base called a burl.
Its leaves come in different shapes. Some are almost round, while others are shaped like a wide spear. They can grow up to 7 centimeters long. The leaves feel dull and smooth. Sometimes, they even have a waxy feel.
When the plant blooms, its flowers grow in a loose group. This group of flowers is called an inflorescence. The flowers themselves are shaped like tiny urns. After the flowers, the plant grows fruit. The fruit is round and dark reddish-brown. It's a type of fruit called a drupe, which means it has a hard pit inside, like a cherry or a peach. These fruits can be up to 1.6 centimeters wide.
Where it Lives
The Indian manzanita is a plant that is endemic to the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. This means it naturally grows only in this specific area and nowhere else in the world!
You can find it growing in the mountain chaparral. Chaparral is a type of natural area with many shrubs and small trees. It also lives in the temperate coniferous forests found in the Sierra Nevada range. These are forests with trees like pines and firs that stay green all year.
