Taxon Details

Arctostaphylos morroensis

Morro manzanita

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Taxon Summary:

Arctostaphylos morroensis, commonly known as Morro manzanita, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral (maritime), Cismontane woodland, Coastal dunes (pre-Flandrian), and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 5 to 205 meters. Arctostaphylos morroensis is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos morroensis Wies. & Schreib.
Common Name: Morro manzanita
Family:	Ericaceae
Element Code:	PDERI040S0
USDA Plants Symbol:	ARMO2
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.1
Fed List:	FT (1994-12-15)
State List:	CC
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:	SB_UCSC
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1974-01-01
Date Edited:	2025-09-23

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial evergreen shrub

Blooming Period: Dec-Mar

Elevation:
5 - 205 meters
15 - 675 feet

General Habitats:

Chaparral (maritime)
Cismontane woodland
Coastal dunes (pre-Flandrian)
Coastal scrub

Microhabitat Details: Baywood fine sand

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes: Estimated to cover less than 350 acres as of 1996. See Madroño 5(1):42 (1939) for original description.
Threats: Threatened by urbanization, alteration of fire regimes, and non-native plants.
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	5
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	3	33 %
Development	3	33%
Non-native plant impacts	2	22%
ORV activity	2	22%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	11%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	11%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					9
A	B	C	D	X	U
1	1	2	0	0	5

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	2
Recent <=20 Years	7

Presence:
Presumed Extant	9
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Luis Obispo (SLO)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Morro Bay South (3512037)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory