Arctostaphylos pilosula is a species of manzanita, known by the common names La Panza manzanita and Santa Margarita manzanita, that is endemic to California.[1] [2]
Its common names comes from populations on the La Panza Range, near the town of Santa Margarita.[1]
The plant is endemic San Luis Obispo County, found in three areas: the La Panza Range, the east slope of the Santa Lucia Mountains near Atascadero, and in the San Luis Range near Pismo Beach.[1]
It grows in chaparral and closed-cone pine forest habitatss, on shale and sandstone outcrops and slopes. It is found at elevations of 30m-1250mm (100feet-4,100feetm).[1] [2]
Arctostaphylos pilosula is an erect and bristly shrub growing 1m-5mm (03feet-16feetm) in height.[1] [2]
The leaves are a round, oval shape and dull and hairless in texture. They grow up to 3cm (01inches) long.[2]
The shrub blooms in spherical white inflorescences of cone-shaped and downward facing "manzanita" flowers, each just under 1cm (00inches) long. Its bloom period is December to March.[2]
The fruit is a reddish-brown drupe about a centimeter wide, that ripen in the summer.[2]
The species is listed on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants as a fairly endangered and vulnerable species.[3]