Ohlone manzanita facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ohlone manzanita |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Arctostaphylos
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| Species: |
ohloneana
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The Ohlone manzanita (Arctostaphylos ohloneana) is a very rare type of manzanita plant. It is known by this common name because it grows in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California. This special shrub is found in just four spots on Ben Lomond Mountain. That's just south of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
Scientists found this manzanita in the 1980s. They officially named it in 2008. It is super rare! There are only about 100 of these plants left in the world.
Where Does the Ohlone Manzanita Grow?
The Ohlone manzanita lives in special places. It grows in areas with chaparral plants near the ocean. It also likes oak and pine forests. These plants grow on whitish soils that come from silica-rich rocks called shale. All the known Ohlone manzanita plants grow on land owned by Lockheed Martin.
What Does the Ohlone Manzanita Look Like?
The Ohlone manzanita is a shrub that stands upright. It can grow to be one or two meters (about 3 to 6 feet) tall. Its branches have reddish-brown bark. The newer, younger twigs have soft, fuzzy hairs on them.
The leaves are light green and shaped like ovals. They can be up to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) long and 1.5 centimeters (about half an inch) wide. The plant's flowers grow in a cluster called a panicle. These flowers are white or pinkish. They are shaped like cones or small urns. After the flowers, the plant grows a round, reddish-brown fruit. This fruit is called a drupe and is about 5 to 8 millimeters (less than half an inch) wide.
