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.
Mon Apr 29 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Thu May 02 @ 7:00PM - 08:30PM Bringing Beauty and Biodiversity to an Urban Preserve, a talk by Stephanie Saffouri (with Laura Powers and Petra Boester) |
Fri May 03 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Friday Edgewood Restoration |
Sat May 04 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Sun May 05 @10:00AM - 02:00PM Calero Park Native Plant Hike (South San Jose) |
Mon May 06 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Fri May 10 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Friday Edgewood Restoration |
Sat May 11 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Sun May 12 @10:30AM - 01:30PM Plant ID Walk at Alum Rock Park (East San Jose) |
Mon May 13 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |