Taxon Report

Arctostaphylos nissenana Merriam

Nissenan manzanita

Print Report

Species Description:
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:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial evergreen shrub
Blooming Period: Feb-Mar	Feb-Mar
Elevation:	450-1100 (1475-3610)
General Habitats:	Chaparral, Closed-cone coniferous forest
Microhabitat:	Rocky
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Global Rank:	G1
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:	BLM_S; USFS_S
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	13
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	1
Good (B)	1
Fair (C)	2
Poor (D)	1
None (X)	1
Unknown (U)	7

Location


California Endemic: True
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)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	10
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	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%

Notes



Threatened by development. 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:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 19 January 2025].