Practical
Plants

Arctostaphylos pungens

Pointleaf Manzanita

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Arctostaphylos genus in the family Ericaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Ericaceae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[9]. An agreeable acid flavour but the fruit is dry and mealy[12]. Hard to digest, the fruit should be eaten in moderation[12]. It can be dried and ground into a powder and then used as mush or as a flavouring in soups etc[9]. A cooling drink can be made from the fruit[4][9].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of diarrhoea[9]. An infusion is also used in the treatment of the rash caused by poison oak, Toxicodendron diversiloba[9].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Skin

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellowish-brown dye is obtained from the leaves, it does not require a mordant[6]. The wood makes a good fuel, producing a long-lasting hot fire[9]. The hard wood has been used for making small tools, awl handles etc[9].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Fuel
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
Southern N. America - Mexico.
Habitat
Gravelly soils in sunny places in the Chaparral[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
very acid, acid
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe. Pre-soak dried seed in boiling water for 10 - 20 seconds or burn some straw on top of them and then stratify at 2 - 5°c for 2 months[2][8]. The seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 months at 15°c[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame or greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Cuttings of side shoots of the current season's growth, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August to December in a frame. The cuttings are very slow and can take a year to root[1][11]. Division in early spring. Take care because the plant resents root disturbance. Pot the divisions up and keep them in a lightly shaded position in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing away actively. Layering in spring[8].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a deep moist well-drained light or medium lime-free loam in sun or semi-shade[10][2][5][8], but plants produce less fruit when they are grown in the shade[8]. This species is closely related to A. manzanita[2]. Plants resent root disturbance and should be placed in their final positions as soon as possible[2][3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

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  5. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

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  6. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

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  7. Pesman. M. W. Meet Flora Mexicana. Dale S. King. Arizona. 1962-00-00

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  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  10. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

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  11. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

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  12. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩1↩2

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