Photos by Jeff Bisbee
Manzanita’s center of biodiversity is in the California Floristic Province, where they are the “rock stars” of woody shrub diversity. Ranging from the Sierra Nevada mountains to coastal bluffs along the Pacific, from temperate rainforests along the North Coast to arid mountain slopes in Southern California, a wealth of manzanita species and subspecies can be found in an astonishing array of environments.
Field Guide to Manzanitas presents an assimilation of images, descriptions, and range maps to better understand these plants through:
- Color plates for identifying the world’s manzanitas
- Accurate and updated range maps
- 28 manzanita hot-spots for finding them in the field
- Spectacular photos from across North America
- Simplified keys by region
- Discussion covering endemism, ecology, and evolution of the genus
“Through liberal use of gorgeous, diagnostic photographs, simplified descriptions, and keys to identification organized by geographic region, the authors and photographer have ensured that their extensive knowledge of manzanita diversity can be shared with readers of all backgrounds. This new edition incorporates valuable advances in understanding of manzanita diversity worldwide.” −Bruce G. Baldwin, Curator of the Jepson Herbarium
“This new work is a magnificent achievement. The book is beautiful, imaginative, and an important contribution to our understanding of the California flora. It will now be the definitive guide to manzanitas, and the new standard by which other field guides are judged. ” −Matt Ritter, author of Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us & California Plants
“This well-crafted, lovely and informative book about the quintessential California genus, Arctostaphylos, fills an important and long-vacant niche in the botanical literature of California and western North America. Anyone who has ever tried to identify a manzanita will be grateful for the authors’ shorter regional identification keys, detailed range maps, and fine photos.” −Julie A. Kierstead, Northern California Botanist and co-author of Wildflowers of California’s Klamath Mountains
