Arctostaphylos columbiana
Arctostaphylos columbiana | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Ericaceae |
Genus: | Arctostaphylos |
Species: | A. columbiana |
Binomial name | |
Arctostaphylos columbiana Piper | |
Synonyms | |
Arctostaphylos tracyi |
Arctostaphylos columbiana is a species of manzanita known by the common name hairy manzanita. It is native to the coast of western North America from northern California to British Columbia. This large manzanita is a treelike shrub occasionally reaching heights of up to ten meters. It is erect with hairy branches, the smaller twigs bearing long bristles tipped with sticky glands. The leaves are oval-shaped and may be 6 centimeters long and 3 wide, dull green, fuzzy, and glandular on both surfaces. The small, white, urn-shaped flowers are borne in bunched inflorescences. The fruit is a red drupe about a centimeter in diameter. The seed requires either fire or consumption by animals in order for germination to occur. This manzanita grows in forested areas and has been known to become a weed on Christmas tree farms.