The California Native Plant Society lists two species of manzanita plants as endangered, but that may soon change, thanks to the Lockheed Fire. The rare “Chalks” and ohloneana manzanitas, whose range is limited to the hills above Davenport, need a fire to pass over them before their seeds can begin to sprout, but the last major fire in the area took place in 1948. Now biologists are expecting dormant seed banks to flourish over the next few weeks. Grey Hayes, a local biologist, adds that the new plants are just some of the indigenous species that could begin to thrive again. He blames wildfire prevention efforts for allowing trees like Douglas firs to take over the landscape, crowding out coastal live oaks. Before the arrival of white settlers in the region in the late 18th century, Native Americans would purposefully start fires in the mountains to encourage plant growth, according to Hayes. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Rare Plants Expected to Thrive After Fire
A more common species of manzanita flowers in Southern California.
