Arctostaphylos pungens

Kunth

in A. von Humboldt et al., Nov. Gen. Sp. 3(fol.): 218.

,

3(qto.): 278.

,

plate 259. 1819 ,.

Common names: Pointleaf or Mexican manzanita
Illustrated
Synonyms: Arctostaphylos benitoensis Roof Arctostaphylos pseudopungens Roof
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 8. Treatment on page 416. Mentioned on page 411.

Shrubs, erect, 1–3 m; burl absent; bark on older stems persistent, reddish, smooth; twigs sparsely short-hairy. Leaves erect; petiole 4–8 mm; blade bright or dark green, shiny, elliptic to lanceolate-elliptic, 1.5–4 × 1–1.8 cm, base obtuse to cuneate, sometimes rounded, margins entire, plane, surfaces smooth, finely tomentose, glabrescent. Inflorescences racemes, simple or 1-branched; immature inflorescence pendent, axis 0.5–1.5 cm, 1+ mm diam., sparsely short-hairy; bracts recurved and crowded at tip, (light green), scalelike, ovate-deltate, (clublike), 2–4 mm, apex acuminate, surfaces glabrous. Pedicels 5–10 mm, glabrous. Flowers: corolla white, conic to urceolate; ovary glabrous. Fruits depressed-globose, 5–8 mm diam., glabrous. Stones distinct. 2n = 26.


Phenology: Flowering winter–early summer.
Habitat: Open pine forests, pinyon-juniper woodlands, chaparral
Elevation: 300-2600 m

Distribution

V8 772-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Nev., N.Mex., Tex., Utah, Mexico.

Discussion

Arctostaphylos pungens is one of the most widespread species in western North America, and extends south to Oaxaca, Mexico. In most western states, it is found in open pine forests and pinyon-juniper woodlands, generally at higher elevations. In California, it is a chaparral species that occurs in desert and peninsular ranges of southern California mountains and has three disjunct populations in central California in San Benito and Monterey counties. These disjunct populations have been given other names, A. benitoensis and A. pseudopungens, but overall populations are A. pungens.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Arctostaphylos pungens"
V. Thomas Parker +, Michael C. Vasey +  and Jon E. Keeley +
Pointleaf or Mexican manzanita +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, Tex. +, Utah +  and Mexico. +
300-2600 m +
Open pine forests, pinyon-juniper woodlands, chaparral +
Flowering winter–early summer. +
in A. von Humboldt et al., Nov. Gen. Sp. +  and plate +
Illustrated +
Arctostaphylos benitoensis +  and Arctostaphylos pseudopungens +
Arctostaphylos pungens +
Arctostaphylos +
species +