bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Member of bearberries and manzanitas (genus Arctostaphylos)
heath family (family Ericaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

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• plant prostrate, 10–50 cm
• may or may not have a burl at the base of main stem (or above) from which new buds can sprout after a fire
• may be hidden by fallen leaves
• leaf:
• adaxially dark green
• abaxially light green, shiny, sparsely puberulent or glabrous
• uncommon, mostly near San Bruno, but scattered elsewhere

Toxicity of redberry, sandberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi):
1 – Skin contact with these plants can cause symptoms ranging from redness, itching, and rash to painful blisters like skin burns.
4 – Ingestion of these plants, especially in large amounts, is expected to cause serious effects to the heart, liver, kidneys or brain. If ingested in any amount, call the poison center immediately.

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Chris’s observations: none

Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – CalPhotos – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora