J20160901-0027—Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp laevigata—RPBG

Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. laevigata—Contra Costa manzanita. Included in the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants on list 1B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere). The CNPS Inventory lists 10 occurances on the western slopess of Mount Diablo. The "Flora of North America" suggests some populations may exist on the eastern slope of the mountain. The "Flora" also states that North Bay populations belong to A manzanita ssp. manzanita. Nascent inflorescences as shown in the photo help in identification of taxa in this taxonomically challenging species Photographed at Regional Parks Botanic Garden located in Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, CA.

Done