Arctostaphylos luciana is a species of manzanita known by the common name Santa Lucia manzanita, is endemic to California.[1]
The woody plant is endemic to the southern Santa Lucia Mountains, in San Luis Obispo County.[2] [3]
It grows in coastal sage scrub chaparral habitats, on shale outcrops and slopes, from 100m-800mm (300feet-2,600feetm) in elevation.[1] [3] It is found growing on ocean facing slopes in the upper boundary of the marine layer.[1]
Arctostaphylos luciana is a shrub or small multi-trunked tree growing 2m-3mm (07feet-10feetm) in height.[1] [3]
Its leaves are glaucous−gray, waxy and woolly to smooth and hairless, with smooth edges. They are base lobed (articulate), rounded to oval in shape, 1.5cm-2.5cmcm (00.6inches-01inchescm) wide and 2cm-4cmcm (01inches-02inchescm) long.[1] [3]
The inflorescence is a cluster of pink and white, hairless, urn-shaped and downward facing "manzanita" flowers. The bloom period is from February to March.[3]
The fruit is a red to green-red drupe, up to 1.2cm (00.5inches) wide.[3]
The species is listed on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants as a fairly endangered and vulnerable species.[4] Some populations are protected within the southern Cuesta Ridge Botanical Special Interest Area of the Los Padres National Forest.[5]