About Arctostaphylos andersonii A.Gray
Arctostaphylos andersonii A.Gray, commonly called Santa Cruz manzanita, is a woody shrub that grows 2 to 5 meters high, and may resemble a small tree. Its smooth leaf blades measure 4 to 7 cm long, have serrated edges, and deeply lobed bases. This species flowers from February through May, and produces small, sticky fruit 2 to 8 mm in size. Santa Cruz manzanita does not develop a basal burl for regrowth, so it must propagate exclusively by seed. Some populations near the Bonny Doon region have highly glaucous leaves that produce a white powdery surface coating, while other populations of this species do not have this trait. The chromosome count for this species is 2n=26. It is often mistaken for Arctostaphylos regismontana, A. pallida, and A. pajaroensis, but can be easily distinguished from these species by its geographic location. This species is restricted to the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, where it grows in openings within redwood forests, usually at elevations below 700 meters, or 2300 feet. It was named for Charles Lewis Anderson by Asa Gray.
