Manzanitas (Arctostaphylos, Ericaceae family) have proliferated in California's Mediterranean climate in multiple ways. Tom will introduce you to the diversity of this group, and then focus on two stories. The first story is where manzanitas come from, so we will examine the history of a small subfamily, the Arbutoideae, of the blueberry/rhododendron/heath family (Ericaceae). Most of the genera in this subfamily occur in California, but only two are in northern California. This history leads into the second story, how manzanitas have captured mutualists, rodents such as chipmunks and chaparral mice, that bury fruits that help them survive our fires.
Tom Parker, Professor of Biology Emeritus, taught at San Francisco State University for 40 years before retiring from teaching. He was educated at the University of Texas (B.A.) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (M.A., Ph.D.). He is principally an evolutionary ecologist who works mainly in tidal wetlands and chaparral. He is the principal author of the treatment for Arctostaphylos in Flora of North America and The Jepson Manual, 2nd Ed.
Fri Apr 04 @ 9:00AM - Edgewood Restoration |
Sat Apr 05 @ 8:00AM - 10:00AM Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Sat Apr 05 @ 9:00AM - 11:00AM Community Work Day at the Native Plant Garden in Kirk Park |
Sat Apr 05 @ 9:00AM - 11:00AM Cataldi Park Native Garden |
Sat Apr 05 @ 9:00AM - 11:00AM Kirk Park Pollinator Garden |
Mon Apr 07 @ 7:00PM - 08:30PM Conservation Committee |
Wed Apr 09 @10:00AM - 02:00PM Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park (Gilroy) |
Fri Apr 11 @ 9:00AM - Edgewood Restoration |
Sat Apr 12 @ 8:00AM - 10:00AM Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Sat Apr 12 @ 9:00AM - 11:00AM Community Work Day at the Native Plant Garden in Kirk Park |