Santa Cruz manzanita facts for kids
The Santa Cruz manzanita (scientific name: Arctostaphylos andersonii) is a special type of shrub that grows mostly in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. It was named after a person called Charles Lewis Anderson by a scientist named Asa Gray. This plant often grows in sunny spots within redwood forests, usually below 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) high.
Quick facts for kids Santa Cruz manzanita |
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A. andersonii
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Contents
What it Looks Like
The Santa Cruz manzanita is a woody shrub. It can grow to be 2 to 5 meters (about 6 to 16 feet) tall. Sometimes, it looks like a small tree.
Its leaves are smooth and measure about 4 to 7 centimeters (1.5 to 2.7 inches) long. The edges of the leaves are serrated, meaning they have small, saw-like teeth. The base of each leaf is deeply lobed, which means it has rounded sections.
Flowers and Fruit
This plant blooms with flowers from February through May. After the flowers, it produces small, sticky fruits. These fruits are usually 2 to 8 millimeters (less than half an inch) in size.
Special Leaf Features
Some Santa Cruz manzanita plants have leaves that look a bit white or powdery. This is because they produce a substance called glaucous on their surface. These plants are often found closer to the Bonny Doon area. Other plants of the same species do not have this powdery coating.
How it Reproduces
Unlike some other plants, the Santa Cruz manzanita does not have a special underground part called a basal burl. A basal burl helps some plants regrow after a fire or damage. Because it doesn't have this, the Santa Cruz manzanita must grow new plants only from its seeds.
Similar Plants
People sometimes confuse the Santa Cruz manzanita with other similar plants. These include A. regismontana, A. pallida, and A. pajaroensis. However, you can usually tell them apart by knowing exactly where they grow. The Santa Cruz manzanita is found only in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
See also
In Spanish: Arctostaphylos andersonii para niños
