Bolinas manzanita facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bolinas manzanita |
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A. virgata
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| Arctostaphylos virgata |
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The Arctostaphylos virgata is a special type of manzanita plant. It is often called the Bolinas manzanita or Marin manzanita. This plant is a large shrub that can even grow to look like a small tree!
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Meet the Bolinas Manzanita!
The Bolinas manzanita is a unique plant. It is found only in one specific area of the world. This makes it very special.
Where Does It Live?
This manzanita lives only in Marin County, California. This means it is endemic to that area. "Endemic" means it naturally grows nowhere else. You can find it in forests and in areas called chaparral. Chaparral is a type of shrubland. It has tough, woody plants that can handle dry summers.
A Special Home in Marin County
There are only about 20 known places where this plant grows. These spots are in the coastal hills of Marin County. It is a very important plant in the maritime chaparral community. This community is found near the ocean. You can see many of these plants at Point Reyes National Seashore. Here, the Bolinas manzanita is a common shrub.
Why Wildfires Are Important
Like many plants in chaparral areas, the Bolinas manzanita needs wildfire to survive. Its seeds often need heat from a fire to sprout. Fire also clears out old plants. This makes room for new ones to grow. When fires are stopped, it can be bad for this plant. This is called "fire suppression." It means fewer new plants can grow. This threatens the manzanita's future.
What Does It Look Like?
The Bolinas manzanita is a big shrub. It can grow at least 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. Some can even reach over 5 meters (about 16 feet)! These taller ones start to look like small trees.
From Bark to Berries
- Branches: Its branches are often twisted. They are covered in a deep red bark.
- Twigs: The smaller twigs have a woolly feel. They also have sticky, bristly hairs. These hairs release a sticky liquid called resin.
- Leaves: The leaves are shiny green. They feel rough and sticky. They are shaped like an oval or a wide spear. Each leaf can be up to 5 centimeters (about 2 inches) long.
- Flowers: The flowers grow in a tight bunch. This bunch is called an inflorescence. The flowers are shaped like small urns.
- Fruit: The fruit is a sticky, bristly drupe. A drupe is a fruit with a hard pit inside, like a peach. These fruits are about 7 millimeters (about 0.27 inches) wide.
