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Plant Profile

Santa Catalina Island Manzanita (Arctostaphylos catalinae)

Photo Credit: J Brew
  • Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Ericaceae
  • State: CA
  • Nature Serve ID: 160913
  • Lifeform: Shrub
  • Date Inducted in National Collection:
Description:

Arctostaphylos catalinae, the Santa Catalina Island Manzanita, is a member of the Manzanita family that can only be found on Catalina Island, California. This shrub flourishes on the coastal ridges of the island and can grow up to 2m tall but has been known to be able mature into a tree-like stature with heights reaching 5m. The stems are lined with fine bristles and produce their white blossoms in clusters between February and April. In past accounts, the grazing of feral goats on the island was a prime threat to this species but since their removal in 2001, A. catalinae has been recovering at an active rate.

Where is Santa Catalina Island Manzanita (Arctostaphylos catalinae) located in the wild?

Habitat:

A. catalinae is a coastal scrub that's typically found on the island's coastal ridgelines. 

Distribution:

A. catalinae is endemic to Santa Catalina Island. On the island itself, it can be found throughout the island's coastline.

States & Provinces:

Santa Catalina Island Manzanita can be found in California

Which CPC Partners conserve Santa Catalina Island Manzanita (Arctostaphylos catalinae)?

  • California Botanic Garden

    Not Sponsored
    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 06/09/17

  • San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

    Not Sponsored
    Assigned 06/13/17

  • Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

    Not Sponsored
    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 08/17/21
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    Tina Stanley
    • 08/29/2023
      • Seed Collection

    In July of 2023, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden collected 250 seeds from 50 maternal lines of Arctostaphylos catalinae on Santa Catalina Island. Seeds were sent to the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation for analysis in the IMLS Seed Longevity Study.

    Center for Plant Conservation
    • 08/17/2021
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    In 2021, CPC contracted the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden to recollect seed from a population currently held in long term orthodox seed storage as part of an IMLS-funded seed longevity experiment. The National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation will evaluate how germination tested viability and RNA Integrity of seed lots decline over time in storage.

    • 09/01/2020
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    Based on an September 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden holds 7 accessions of Arctostaphylos catalinae in orthodox seed collection. There are as many as 28282 seeds of this species in their collection - although some may have been used for curation testing or sent to back up.

    • 08/05/2020
      • Seed Collection

    Based on an August 2020 extract of the California Plant Rescue Database, California Botanic Garden has collected 7 seed accessions of Arctostaphylos catalinae from 4 plant occurrences listed in the California Natural Diversity Database. These collections together emcompass 30 maternal plants

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Arctostaphylos catalinae
    Authority P.V. Wells
    Family Ericaceae
    CPC Number 210
    ITIS 23475
    USDA ARCA21
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names Santa Catalina Island manzanita
    Associated Scientific Names Arctostaphylos catalinae
    Distribution A. catalinae is endemic to Santa Catalina Island. On the island itself, it can be found throughout the island's coastline.
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    California S2?
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    Photo Credit: J Brew

    Arctostaphylos catalinae in bloom on Catalina Island in February of 2023.

    Photo Credit: Heather Schneider

    Arctostaphylos catalinae in fruit on Catalina Island in February of 2023.

    Photo Credit: Heather Schneider

    Arctostaphylos catalinae stem on Catalina Island in February of 2023.

    Photo Credit: Heather Schneider

    The flowers of the endemic Catalina manzanita (Arctostaphylos catalinae) resemble small upside-down amphoras. Only the smallest of insects are able to enter the flowers and reach the pollen and nectar.

    Photo Credit: Carlos L. de la Rosa

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