Xylococcus bicolor
Encyclopedia
Xylococcus is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the heath family
which contains the single species Xylococcus bicolor, the Mission Manzanita. This is a shrub
that grows to three meters in height, two meters in diameter. Its native range is very limited, comprising Southwestern and Pacific
coastal California
from San Diego county through north-central Pacific coastal Baja California
, a bit of southern Riverside County near Temecula, and Santa Catalina Island. It is a member of the chaparral
plant community.
). The form is upright, usually with a single trunk and a roughly spheroid crown. Leaves are oblong, glossy dark green on the top and very light colored with a felty texture on the underside. The edges of the leaves curl under as they age. Bark is smooth and a red-gray color.
Flowers, which appear from December to February depending on rainfall, are white to pink in color blending to yellowish at the open end, 8-10mm in length and hang like bells in small clusters near the ends of branches.
Fruit is glossy dark red to almost black, 7mm diameter and has very little flesh, being mostly a large, woody seed. The name Xylococcus comes from the Greek for "wood berry".
ecosystems below 3500' elevation on dry, sunny slopes in a very limited range of coastal areas of southern California and northern Baja California.
Birds, including the California Thrasher
and Scrub jay, eat seeds. Hummingbirds, especially the resident Anna's Hummingbird
, drink nectar from flowers. Various birds nest in Mission Manzanita and many use it for cover.
While some chaparral
plant species require fire
to germinate seeds and reproduce, Xylococcus bicolor does not, nor does it require openings left by wildfires. But as a chaparral
member species it must have a means of coping with wildfire. It does so by resprouting from the base after its top has burned away. This mechanism works very well unless a second fire follows closely after the first. If the plant has not had time to sufficiently regenerate it will probably perish.
Coyote scat is a good source of fertile seed. At certain times of the year their scat is full of the seeds. Apparently the acid wash helps germination.
Ericaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
which contains the single species Xylococcus bicolor, the Mission Manzanita. This is a shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
that grows to three meters in height, two meters in diameter. Its native range is very limited, comprising Southwestern and Pacific
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
coastal California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
from San Diego county through north-central Pacific coastal Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, a bit of southern Riverside County near Temecula, and Santa Catalina Island. It is a member of the chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
plant community.
Description
The Mission Manzanita is a slow-growing shrub that resembles the true manzanitas (ArctostaphylosArctostaphylos
Arctostaphylos is a genus of plants comprised by the manzanitas and bearberries. They are shrubs or small trees.There are about 60 species of Arctostaphylos, ranging from ground-hugging arctic, coastal, and mountain species to small trees up to 6 m tall. Most are evergreen , with small oval...
). The form is upright, usually with a single trunk and a roughly spheroid crown. Leaves are oblong, glossy dark green on the top and very light colored with a felty texture on the underside. The edges of the leaves curl under as they age. Bark is smooth and a red-gray color.
Flowers, which appear from December to February depending on rainfall, are white to pink in color blending to yellowish at the open end, 8-10mm in length and hang like bells in small clusters near the ends of branches.
Fruit is glossy dark red to almost black, 7mm diameter and has very little flesh, being mostly a large, woody seed. The name Xylococcus comes from the Greek for "wood berry".
Ecology
The Mission Manzanita is found mixed southern chaparralChaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
ecosystems below 3500' elevation on dry, sunny slopes in a very limited range of coastal areas of southern California and northern Baja California.
Birds, including the California Thrasher
California Thrasher
The California Thrasher is a large thrasher found primarily in chaparral habitat in California and Baja California. Similar to the Crissal and Le Conte's Thrashers in habit, the California Thrasher is the only species of Toxostoma throughout most of its limited range...
and Scrub jay, eat seeds. Hummingbirds, especially the resident Anna's Hummingbird
Anna's Hummingbird
Anna's Hummingbird is a medium-sized hummingbird native to the west coast of North America. This bird was named after Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli.-Description:...
, drink nectar from flowers. Various birds nest in Mission Manzanita and many use it for cover.
While some chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
plant species require fire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
to germinate seeds and reproduce, Xylococcus bicolor does not, nor does it require openings left by wildfires. But as a chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
member species it must have a means of coping with wildfire. It does so by resprouting from the base after its top has burned away. This mechanism works very well unless a second fire follows closely after the first. If the plant has not had time to sufficiently regenerate it will probably perish.
Uses
The Luiseno Native American tribe bruised ripe berries and soaked them overnight in cold water to produce a cider-like drink.Cultivation
Requires full sun, well drained soil. Soil PH 6-7. USDA zones 7-10. Water regularly and mulch during first year.Coyote scat is a good source of fertile seed. At certain times of the year their scat is full of the seeds. Apparently the acid wash helps germination.
External links
- Jepson's "A Flora of California"
- Jepson Flora Project 1993 "Xylococcus bicolor"
- Photos of Xylococcus bicolor
See also
- ChaparralChaparralChaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
- California chaparral and woodlandsCalifornia chaparral and woodlandsThe California chaparral and woodlands is a terrestrial ecoregion of lower northern, central, and southern California and northwestern Baja California , located on the west coast of North America...
- California coastal sage and chaparral ecoregionCalifornia coastal sage and chaparral ecoregionThe California coastal sage and chaparral, a sub-ecoregion of the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion, is found in southwestern California and northwestern Baja California in Mexico.-Location:...
- Xeriscape