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Manzanita

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	Manzanita
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	Topics Manzanita Topic Home The Manzanitas are a subgenus of the genus ArctostaphylosArctostaphylos The genus *Arctostaphylos, the manzanitas* and bearberries, are shrubs or small trees characterised by smooth,... . They are evergreen shrubShrub A shrub or bush is a horticultural rather than strictly botanical category of woody plant, distinguished from a tree b... s or small treeTree A tree is a large, perennial, woody plant.... s present in the chaparralChaparral Chaparral is a shrubland biome found primarily in California, USA, that is shaped by a Mediterranean climate and wildfire.... biome of western North AmericaNorth America North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere.... , where they occur from southern British ColumbiaBritish Columbia British Columbia, often referred to as B.C. or BC , is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for it... in CanadaCanada Summary Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area, occupying most of northern North America.... , WashingtonWashington Washington is a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.... to CaliforniaCalifornia California is a state spanning the southern half of the west coast of the contiguous United States.... and New MexicoNew Mexico New Mexico is a southwestern state in the United States of America.... in the United StatesUnited States The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is... , and throughout much of northern and central MexicoMexico The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country located in North America, bordered at the north by t... . 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 BearberryBearberry Bearberries are three species of dwarf shrubs in the genus Arctostaphylos.... for other species in the same genus. The word manzanita is the Spanish diminutiveDiminutive A diminutive is a formation of a word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning, smallness of the object named, int... 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 ArbutusArbutus *Arbutus* is a genus of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, w... , 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 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 . The younger leaves are sometimes plucked and chewed by hikers to deter thirst. Native Americans used Manzanita leaves as toothbrushFacts About Toothbrush The toothbrush is an instrument used to clean teeth, consisting of a small brush on a handle.... es. Manzanitas are extremely useful as ornamental plantOrnamental plant An ornamental plant is a plant that is grown for its ornamental qualities, rather than for its commercial or other value.... 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. The woodFacts About Wood Wood is derived from woody plants, notably trees but also shrubs.... is notoriously hard to cure, mostly due to cracking against the grain, giving it few uses as timberTimber Timber is a term used to describe wood, either standing or that has been processed for use—from the time trees are fel... . The slow growth rate and many branchings further decrease the sizes available. Some furnitureFurniture Furniture is the collective term for the movable objects which may support the human body , provide storage, or hold objects... 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 bleachBleach To bleach something is to remove or lighten its color; a "bleach" is a chemical that can produce these effects, often via ox... es manzanita to light grey or white, rendering it superficially akin to animal boneBone Bone, also called osseous tissue, is a type of hard endoskeletal connective tissue found in many vertebrate animals.... 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 parrotParrot Parrots or Psittacines includes about 353 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatui... s and other large pet birds. The branches of the larger species are extremely long-lasting for this purpose. Some aquariumAquarium An aquarium is a vivarium, usually contained in a clear-sided container in which water-dwelling plants and animals are ke... keepers use sandblasted manzanita as driftwoodDriftwood Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach, of a sea or river, by the action of winds, tides or waves.... 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 tanninTannin Tannins are astringent, bitter-tasting plant polyphenols that bind and precipitate proteins.... 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 campfireCampfire A campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, usually in a fire ring.... , barbecueBarbecue Barbecue is a method and apparatus for cooking food, often meat, with the heat and hot gases of a fire, smoking wood, or ho... , fireplaceFireplace A fireplace is an architectural element consisting of a space designed to contain a fire, generally for heating but sometime... , or stoveStove A stove is a heat-producing device.... . 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 ironCast iron Cast iron usually refers to grey cast iron, but can mean any of a group of iron-based alloys containing more than 2% carbon.... 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 FranciscoPresidio of San Francisco The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in the City and County of San Fr... National Historic Landmark District in San Francisco, CaliforniaCalifornia Overview California is a state spanning the southern half of the west coast of the contiguous United States.... . This plant has since been successfully cloned. External links Good photo of the copper colored bark.