Taxon Details

Arctostaphylos nissenana

Nissenan manzanita

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David Graber

Sierra Pacific Industries

Taxon Summary:

Arctostaphylos nissenana, commonly known as Nissenan manzanita, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Ericaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, and Closed-cone coniferous forest, growing at elevations from 450 to 1100 meters. Arctostaphylos nissenana is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Arctostaphylos nissenana Merriam
Common Name: Nissenan manzanita
Family:	Ericaceae
Element Code:	PDERI040V0
USDA Plants Symbol:	ARNI4
Synonyms/Other Names:
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:	BLM_S; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1974-01-01
Date Edited:	2025-10-29

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial evergreen shrub

Blooming Period: Feb-Mar

Elevation:
450 - 1100 meters
1475 - 3610 feet

General Habitats:

Closed-cone coniferous forest
Chaparral

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Rocky

Notes

Notes: See Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 31:102 (1918) for original description, Four Seasons 1(4):7-15 (1966) for species account, and Four Seasons 6(4):12-16 (1983) for range extension information.
Threats: Threatened by development.
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	10
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	9	69 %
Improper burning regime	4	30%
Road/trail construction/maint.	4	30%
Logging	2	15%
ORV activity	2	15%
Other	2	15%
Development	2	15%
Disease	2	15%
Agriculture	1	7%
Biocides	1	7%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	7%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					13
A	B	C	D	X	U
1	1	2	1	1	7

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	7
Recent <=20 Years	6

Presence:
Presumed Extant	12
Possibly Extirpated	1
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
El Dorado (ELD), Tuolumne (TUO)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Camino (3812066), Garden Valley (3812077), Georgetown (3812087), Placerville (3812067), Pollock Pines (3812075), Slate Mtn. (3812076), Sonora (3712084)

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

Click on quad for name. Hold Shift Key to use mouse scroll wheel

CNPS Rare Plant Inventory