Arctostaphylos ohloneana

Arctostaphylos ohloneana

Critically Imperiled (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Arctostaphylos
Species:
A. ohloneana
Binomial name
Arctostaphylos ohloneana
M.C.Vasey & V.T.Parker

Arctostaphylos ohloneana is a rare species of manzanita known by the common name Ohlone manzanita, in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California. It takes its name after the native American Ohlone people who settled along the California coast between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. It is endemic to northwest Santa Cruz County, where it is known only from four populations on Ben Lomond Mountain, just south of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

It was discovered in the 1980s by botanists James A. West and Randall Morgan among other manzanita species on the mountain and it was described to science in 2008. There are an estimated 100 individuals in existence.

This article will discuss the small distribution range this endangered species inhabits, as well as a brief description of the plant and the threats it faces along with conservation efforts.