Ericaceae (Heath Family) Ericaceae consists of shrubs, tress, and perennial herbs, many of them familar as garden plants: rhododendrons, azaleas, heaths, heathers, and blueberries. The regular flowers usually have a 5-lobed calyx and a corolla of either 5 lobes or 5 separate petals, with 5 or 10 stamens. The fruit is fleshy or dry, and usually partitioned into 5 seed producing divisions. Probably all members of Ericaceae have fungi associated with their roots, for proper breakdown and intake of nutrients. This makes them excellent places to scout for mushrooms - the delectable Hedge Hog Mushroom is usually found growing under Huckleberry thickets in late Winter. Ericaceae are excellent for native gardens, particularly Western Azalea (Rhododendron occidentale), Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum) and Salal (Gaultheria shallon).

Montara Mountain has many native members of this family, including:

Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) Montara Manzanita (Arctostaphylos montaraensis) Brittle-Leaved Manzanita (Arctostaphylos tomentosa crinita)

Salal (Gaultheria shallon) Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)

Arbutus menziesii: Madrone Ericaceae (Heath Family) Flowers: White waxy bells in dense clusters Blooms: April Leaves: Shiny green, 4 -6 inches long, leathery and lighter hued on edge. Fruit/Seeds: Orange-red berries, in hanging clusters; summer Location: Dry trails at higher elevations, sandy and rocky soils. Hazelnut and Brooks Falls Trails in San Pedro Valley County Park. Status: Native - Common.	Arbutus menziesii 600x450 JPEG - 40K
Further description & Comment: Up to 20 ft tall or more, Evergreen. Bark is reddish-orange/brown, with outer layers peeling off (sometimes while you're standing there) exposing a smooth surface. (Manzanita, which usually grows nearby Madrone, has much redder bark, smaller, tougher leaves, and doesn't have the spreading form.) Main branching occurs immediately above ground, into multiple trunk-size branches that can spread almost as wide as tree is high. With it's smooth bark and spreading form, Madrone is one of the friendliest tress to hang out around. The groves up at the Brooks Falls Overlook in San Pedro Valley County Park (where these pictures are from) are worth the short hike.
A closeup of the smooth bark and spreading branches. 600x450 JPEG - 72K	Hikers in a spring mist at the Brooks Falls grove. 600 x 450 JPEG - 64K

Arctostaphylos montaraensis: Montara Manzanita Ericaceae (Heath Family) Flowers: White, waxy dangling urns, small; in dense clusters at ends of branches. Blooms: January - March. Leaves: Lobed at base; heart-shaped, slightly toothed, leathery, 2 - 4 inches long on short petiole (leaf stem); in tight, upright overlapping bunches at ends of branches. Fruit/Seeds: Reddish-green "little apples"; in clusters. April - June. Location: Dry, inland trails above 500 ft, mostly on the Pacifica side. Status: Native - Rare and restricted in range.	Arctostaphylos montaraensis This beautiful 20 ' plant grows in San Pedro Valley County Park. on the North side of Montara Mountain, above Pacifica. Photo by Mike Vasey. 560x420 JPEG - 60K
Hikers pass by Montara Manzanita on the Brooks Falls Trail in San Pedro Valley County Park.	The bright red growing tips of new foliage light up the trails in mid-winter.
Further description & Comment: 4 - 15 ft tall; branches upright and twisted; red bark sheds easily; evergreen. This species is found only on Montara Mountain. For identification, it has no burl at base (see image above; A. tomentosa: Brittle-Leaf Manzanita has a distinctive burl) and has the distinctive heart-shaped leaves on short stems. The bark of the Madrone tree is more golden. The image at right shows the little apple-like berries.	480x360 JPEG - 24K

Arctostaphylos tomentosa crinita: Brittle-leaved Manzanita Ericaceae (Heath Family) Flowers: White, waxy dangling urns, small; in dense clusters at ends of branches. Blooms: January - March. Leaves: Lobed at base; slightly toothed, leathery, 2 inches long on petioles (leaf stems) almost twice as long.; in bunches at ends of branches. Fruit/Seeds: Reddish-green "little apples"; in clusters. April - June. Location: Dry, inland trails above 500 ft, mostly on the Pacifica side. Status: Native - Common

Arctostaphylos tomentosa crinita 480x360 JPEG - 24K

The burl of a fallen and trimmed A. tormentosa continues to sprout leaves, and will eventually regenerate a new tree. 600x450 JPEG - 72K

Further description & Comment: 5 - 20 feet tall, red bark which peels slowly to reveal red wood. The Brittle-leaved Manzanita has distinct burl at its base, which is partially underground and nearly impervious to fire or chain saws. The Montara Manzanita does not have a burl at its base. Brittle-leaved also has brisly hairs on its branchlets.

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