Manzanita
415305
225302549
2008-07-12T23:56:01Z
Curtis Clark
302909
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/68.72.11.181|68.72.11.181]] ([[User talk:68.72.11.181|talk]]) to last version by MattSF
{{Taxobox
| name = Manzanita
| image = Manzanita large 750px.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ericales]]
| familia = [[Ericaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Arctostaphylos]]''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
{{otheruses}}
The '''Manzanitas''' are a subgenus of the genus ''[[Arctostaphylos]]''. They are evergreen [[shrub]]s or small [[tree]]s present in the [[chaparral]] biome of western [[North America]], where they occur from southern [[British Columbia]] in [[Canada]], [[Washington]] to [[California]] and [[New Mexico]] in the [[United States]], and throughout much of northern and central [[Mexico]]. They are characterised by smooth, orange or red bark and stiff, twisting branches. There are about 60 species of manzanita, ranging from ground-hugging coastal and mountain species to small trees up to 6m tall. Manzanitas bloom in the winter to early spring and carry berries in spring and summer. The berries and flowers of most species are edible.
See also [[Bearberry]] for other species in the same genus.
The word ''manzanita'' is the [[Diminutive#Spanish|Spanish diminutive]] of ''manzana'' (apple). A literal translation would be ''little apple''. The name manzanita is also sometimes used to refer to species in the related genus ''[[Arbutus]]'', which is known by that name in the Canadian area of the tree's range, but is more usually known as madroño, or madrone in the United States.
==Uses==
[[Image:Manzanita.JPG|left|thumb|250px|A Manzanita bush.]]
Native uses of the plant include collecting the berries, drying them, and grinding them up into a coarse meal. Fresh berries and branch tips were also soaked in water and drunk, making a refreshing cider. When the bark curls off, it can be used as a tea for nausea and upset stomach {{Fact|date=February 2007}}. The younger leaves are sometimes plucked and chewed by hikers to deter thirst{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. Native Americans used Manzanita leaves as [[toothbrush]]es. <ref>[[Bear Grylls]] ''[[Man vs. Wild]]'' [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] episode (US: 8 December 2006 [[Discovery Channel]], UK: 31 Mar 2007 [[Channel 4]])</ref>
Manzanitas are extremely useful as [[ornamental plant]]s in the western United States and other similar climate zones. They are evergreen, highly drought-tolerant, have picturesque bark and attractive flowers and berries, and come in many sizes and growth patterns. ''A. columbiana'', for example, is hardy enough to be used for highway landscaping in western Oregon and Washington. ''A. 'emerald carpet''', ''A. uva-ursi'', and other low-growing manzanitas are extremely valuable evergreen groundcovers for dry slopes. Larger varieties 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.
Manzanita branches are popular as decoration, due to their unique shape, color, and strength when dried.
[[Image:ManzanitaTreeBranches wb.jpg|thumb|right|Manzanita bark]]
The [[wood]] is notoriously hard to cure, mostly due to cracking against the grain, giving it few uses as [[timber]]. The slow growth rate and many branchings further decrease the sizes available. Some [[furniture]] and 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 and [[bleach]]es manzanita to light grey or white, rendering it superficially akin to animal [[bone]]s. 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 wood is also used as perches for [[parrot]]s and other large pet birds. The branches of the larger species are extremely long-lasting for this purpose.
Some [[aquarium]] keepers use sandblasted manzanita as [[driftwood]] in planted aquaria because of its attractive forked growth and its chemical neutrality. If properly cleaned and cured, it holds up well over extended periods of submersion. The wood is also resistant to the leaching of [[tannin]]s into the water column, a problem often found with other aquarium driftwoods. When used as driftwood, manzanita must often be either weighted down for several weeks or soaked first to counteract the wood's natural buoyancy.
Manzanita wood, when dry, is excellent for burning in a [[campfire]], [[barbecue]], [[fireplace]], or [[stove]]. 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 crack [[cast iron]] stoves or cause chimney fires.
==Threats==
Some manzanita species are among the rarest plants in the world. ''Arctostaphylos hookeri'' subsp. ''ravenii'' (also known as Presidio manzanita) is the most endangered and restricted plant in the mainland United States. In 1987 only one specimen remained, at a secret location in the [[Presidio of San Francisco|Presidio district]] of [[San Francisco]], [[California]]. This plant has since been successfully cloned. <ref> http://berkeley.edu/news/berkeleyan/1995/0208/manzanita.html </ref>
==References==
<references/>
==External links==
*[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/07/HOQ710F9G7.DTL San Francisco Chronicle Story – Part 1 (May 2008) "Mysterious Manzanita Baffles Homeowners", by: Ron Sullivan, Joe Eaton, Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Of great interest note in Article that this is not Presidio manzanita but an as yet unclassified species!]
*[http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=23467 ITIS 23467 ITIS species list]
*[http://wildfiction.blogspot.com/2007/11/copper-bark-tree.html Manzanita in Central Arizona] Good photo of the copper colored bark.
*[http://www.sfweekly.com/2008-04-16/news/aninconvenient-plant/ SF Weekly cover story about the Manzanita (April 2008)]
[[Category:Arctostaphylos]]
[[Category:Flora of California]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]