Montara manzanita

Description

Arctostaphylos montaraensis,known by the common name Montara manzanita, is a species of manzanita in the Ericaceae family. This perennial evergreen shrub is endemic to California, native only to a few occurrences in northern San Mateo County on San Bruno Mountain and Montara Mountain, northern extensions of the Santa Cruz Mountains. It is found at elevations of 80–500 metres (260–1,640 ft) on the two mountains, growing on decomposing granite and sandstone rock outcrops, in coastal chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats. The plant is ranked as a Critically endangered species by the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, due to being threatened by new developments and off trail/road walking and vehicle (e.g. motorcycles, mountain bikes) habitat degradation.