Woollyleaf manzanita facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woollyleaf manzanita |
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| subsp. crustacea | |
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| subsp. insulicola | |
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A. tomentosa
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| Arctostaphylos tomentosa (Pursh) Lindl.
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The Arctostaphylos tomentosa is a special type of plant called a manzanita. People often call it the woollyleaf manzanita or woolley manzanita. This plant is a shrub, which means it's a woody plant smaller than a tree.
It grows only in California, which means it is endemic there. You can find it in places like chaparral canyons, foothills, and lower mountains. It also grows in special Monterey Cypress forests near Point Lobos and Del Monte Forest in Monterey County.
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About the Woollyleaf Manzanita
This manzanita plant usually grows low to the ground and spreads out wide. It's often much wider than it is tall. This plant can look a bit different from one plant to another, even within the same group.
Its stems can be red, gray, or a mix of both colors. The bark on the stems might be smooth, rough, or even peeling off in strips. Some stems are smooth, while others can be quite bristly with tiny hairs.
The leaves of the woollyleaf manzanita can be shaped like an oval or a spear (lance-shaped). Sometimes, they even have small teeth along their edges. The top side of the leaf is usually darker and shinier than the bottom side.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers of this manzanita are usually white or pink. Inside, they might be smooth or have tiny hairs. After the flowers, the plant grows small, fuzzy, reddish fruits. These fruits are called drupes and are less than a centimeter (about half an inch) wide.
Different Types of Woollyleaf Manzanita
Within the Arctostaphylos tomentosa species, there are many different types called subspecies. These are like different versions of the same plant that have slightly different features or grow in different places. Here are some of them:
- A. tomentosa subsp. bracteosa — This rare type is found near Monterey.
- A. tomentosa subsp. crinita — You can find this one in the southern San Francisco Bay Area.
- A. tomentosa subsp. crustacea — Also known as brittleleaf manzanita, this type is found in many places.
- A. tomentosa subsp. daciticola — Called dacite manzanita, it grows in San Luis Obispo County.
- A. tomentosa subsp. eastwoodiana — This type is from Santa Barbara County.
- A. tomentosa ssp. hebeclada — Found in the southwestern Santa Cruz Mountains.
- A. tomentosa subsp. insulicola — Known as island-loving manzanita, it grows on the Channel Islands.
- A. tomentosa subsp. rosei — This rosy manzanita grows along the central and northern coasts.
- A. tomentosa subsp. subcordata — Called Santa Cruz Island manzanita, it is only found on the Channel Islands.
- A. tomentosa subsp. tomentosa — This type is found along the Central Coast of California.
See also
In Spanish: Arctostaphylos tomentosa para niños
