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| Arctostaphylos purissima |
| Family: Ericaceae (Heath) |
| Flowers — color: white, size: 1/4", type: bell |
La Purisima Manzanita flowers resemble the Greek jug, amphorae. Small white urns over 1/4" long. The corolla narrows towards the end, then flares in several short lobes. Parts of the flower may get a pinkish tinge. They form small tight clusters,up to a dozen blooms. Small round 1/4" fruit turn green to red, like 'small apples' [Spanish].
Habit:
La Purisima Manzanita is a spreading shrub that may expand one foot every year. The general form is a dome, reaching twelve feet tall. New stems are green and covered in slightly stiff 1/8" white hairs, which disappear as the stem becomes woody and brown.
The evergreen leaves, roughly one inch long, are cordate [heart-shaped, see photo] but may have a rounded end or come to a point. Some faithful belive this shape symbolizes the Virgin Mary, aka La Purisima. The red vein and edges of the young sample leaf will turn green as it matures. Both sides are similar and shiny, and it attaches directly to its stem. The leaves grow perpendicularly to the its stem and face its end. Most branches are horizontal, so the leaf forms a vertical plane. This strategy reduces overheating when the sun is high. When the stem is not horizontal, La Purisima Manzanita may have some disadvantages.
These manzanita expand by 'prospective growth'. Any branch on the plant may start a new stem, even in the core or under a branch. This new stem lengthens and sets leaves. If these leaves don't meet some energy goal, because of shade from its own canopy or a neighbor, the plant cuts its losses and kills the stem. The interior of a manzanita is congested with many dead branches and twigs, nice kindling for a fire.
The red-brown bark is very smooth and shiny, as if polished. The sample photo actually shows a Purisima Manzanita molting: the old bark is splitting and will fall away, exposing the fresh bark.
Manzanita, chamise, and ceanothus are the keystone shrubs of the maritime chaparral. They employ different strategies:
- Ceanothus
- Fire activates many accumulated seeds, larger than chamise
- Chamise
- May fire-sprout from its root crown and gain head-start
- Manzanita
- Rapid growth and size overcome smaller plants, denser foliage captures all sunlight
La Purisima Manzanita grows only in western Santa Barbara county, BMER and four compact groups ranging from Point Sal to Gaviota. Shares habitat with shagbark manzanita, less common in BMER.