Manzanita

Not to be confused withManchineel.For other uses, seeManzanita (disambiguation).

Manzanita branches with red bark

Manzanitais a common name for many species of the genusArctostaphylos.They are evergreenshrubsor smalltreespresent in thechaparralbiomeof westernNorth America,where they occur fromSouthern British ColumbiaandWashingtontoOregon,California,Utah,Arizona,New Mexico,andTexasin the United States, and throughoutMexico.Manzanitas can live in places with poorsoiland little water. They are characterized by smooth orange or red bark and stiff, twisting branches. There are 105 species and subspecies of manzanita,95 of which are found in theMediterranean climateand colder mountainous regions of California, ranging from ground-hugging coastal and mountain species to small trees up to 20 feet (6m) tall. Manzanitas bloom from winter to early spring and carry berries in spring and summer.The berries and flowers of most species are edible.

Manzanita flowers

The wordmanzanitais theSpanish diminutiveofmanzanameaning "little apple". The name manzanita is also sometimes used to refer to species in the related genusArbutus,which is known by that name in the Canadian area of the tree's range, but is more usually known asmadroño,ormadronein the United States.

Uses

A manzanita bush

Folk medicine

Native Americans in Northern California make atisanefrom manzanita leaves to treatpoison oakrash.The leaves contain chemicals with a mildly disinfectant quality and can be used for mild urinary tract infections.

The tree's berries can be turned into a cider by mashing, pouring an equal amount of water over the paste, and then straining it. In Native American cultures, this cider is then used to treat stomach ailments and promote appetite. The berries have also been used to treat bronchitis and kidney problems.

The leaves of the manzanita also have many medicinal purposes. Chewing the leaves of the manzanita tree into a poultice can treat open sores and ease headaches after application. Chewing on the leaves, without ingestion, can cure stomach issues such as cramps and aches. Infusions of the leaves can also treat ailments such as diarrhea and severe colds.

Culinary use

Manzanita berries

The berries are edible, and can be harvested en masse and stored.Once stored and dried, the berries can be ground into a coarse meal.The berries can be eaten ripe (when red) or green for a slightly sour taste. They are good eaten alone or used as a thickener or sweetener in other dishes.Native Americans use the fresh berries to make ciderand use the leaves astoothbrushes.

Landscape use

Manzanitas are useful asornamental plantsin gardens in the western United States and similar climate zones. They are evergreen, highly drought-tolerant, have picturesque bark and attractive flowers and berries, and occur in many sizes and growth patterns.

Arctostaphylos columbiana,for example, is hardy enough for highway landscaping in western Oregon and Washington.A.'Emerald Carpet',A. uva-ursi(the bearberry), and other low-growing manzanitas are valuable evergreen groundcovers for dry slopes. Larger varieties, such as Arctostaphylos. 'Dr. Hurd,' can be grown as individual specimens and pruned to emphasize the striking pattern and colors of the branches. They prefer light, well-drained soil, although the low-growing ground covers will tolerate heavier soils.

Decorative use

Manzanita branches are popular as decoration due to their unique shape, color, and strength when dried. Florists sometimes use them as centerpieces at wedding receptions and other events, often adding hanging votive candles, beaded gems, and small flowers.

Manzanita bark

Thewoodis notoriously hard to cure, mostly due to cracking against the grain, giving it few uses aslumber.The slow growth rate and many branchings further decrease the sizes available. Somefurnitureand art employ whole round branches, which reduces cracking and preserves the deep red color.

The dead wood decays slowly and can last for many years, on and off the plant. Sunlight smooths andbleachesmanzanita to light grey or white, rendering it superficially akin to animal bones. Because of this and the stunted growth of many species, manzanita is often collected in its more unusual shapes, giving it the nickname "mountain driftwood".

Manzanita bark peeling off in small curls

Manzanita wood is also used as perches forparrotsand other large pet birds. The branches of the larger species are extremely long-lasting for this purpose.

Someaquariumkeepers use sandblasted manzanita asdriftwoodin planted aquaria because of its attractive forked growth and its chemical neutrality. It holds up well over extended periods of submersion if properly cleaned and cured. The wood is also resistant to the leaching oftanninsinto the water column, a problem often found with other aquarium driftwoods. When used as driftwood, manzanita must usually be weighted down for several weeks or soaked first to counteract the wood's natural buoyancy when dried and cured. The green wood does not float.

Manzanita wood, when dry, is excellent for burning in acampfire,barbecue,fireplace,orstove.It is dense and burns at a high temperature for long periods. However, caution should be exercised because the high temperatures can damage thin-walled barbecues and even crackcast ironstoves or cause chimney fires.

Other uses

DuringWorld War II,manzanita rootburlswere used as a suitable native material to makesmoking pipesdue to its relation and similar fire-resistant properties to then-unavailable importedbriar.It was labeled as "mission briar" and harvested for the remainder of the war, stopping soon after when supplies of imported briar once again became available.

Rarity and endemics

Some manzanita species are among the rarest plants in the world.

Arctostaphylos montanaravenii(Presidio manzanita),anendemicspecies, is the most endangered and restricted plant in the mainland United States. In 1987 only one specimen remained at a secret location in thePresidio of San FranciscoNational Historic Landmark DistrictinSan Francisco,California.This plant has since been successfully cloned.

Arctostaphylos franciscana(Franciscan manzanita), a species native to San Francisco,had not been seen growing wild since 1947 until it was spotted growing in thePresidio of San Franciscoin October 2009.Caltrans transplanted this specimen on 23 January 2010 to make way for theDoyle Drive Replacement Project.Transplanting costs were funded in part by Federal Highways Administration, Caltrans, The Presidio of San Francisco, and private donors.Arctostaphylos hookeri,subspeciesfranciscana,a scrubby, thin-twigged bush, riddled with the webs of miniature spiders, resides in a corner of the California section of The Strybing Arboretum.

An as yet unclassified and unidentified manzanita found growing on San Francisco's Parker Avenue presents a test case for San Francisco's landmark tree ordinance.

Arctostaphylos gabrielensisis a "critically imperiled" species of manzanita endemic to a tiny area in theSan Gabriel Mountains,inLos Angeles County, California.

Genus evolution

Genus evolution is relatively recent, but in C. Michael Hogan's tracing of the evolutionary history of the genus, he states:"convergent evolution patterns appear to complicatecladisticconstructions for certain portions of the genuscladogram.In any case, fossil ancestors of the genusArctostaphyloshave been suggested to have occurred in the Middle Miocene, with modern species beginning to take shape in the Late Tertiary. "

Ecology

Themanzanita leaf gall aphidand themanzanita butter clumpfungus are two known ecological associates of this type of tree. The flowers attract native bee species includingOsmiaand theblack-tailed bumblebee.The fungusExobasidium arctostaphyliinduces witch's broom galls on manzanita.

See also

• Artemisia californica(California sagebrush)
• Chamise
• Baccharis pilularis(coyote brush)
• Bearberry
• Arctostaphylos
• Category:Arctostaphylos
• Xylococcus bicolor(mission manzanita)
• Manzanita conk

External links

• "Arctostaphylos".Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
• Manzanita in Central ArizonaGood photo of the copper-colored bark.
• Joe Eskenazi (16 April 2008)."An Inconvenient Plant".SF Weekly.cover story about the Manzanita