What is the name of a shrub like tree in coastal redwood forests?
It is very small and has glossy leaves with no ridges around the edge like oak. It is not a very common type so only answer this if you think its something other than: bay, buckeye, oak, madrone or any other very common type.
2 Responses
candy2mercy
24 Feb 2010
adam H
24 Feb 2010
Manzanita
Depends on where you were in the coast redwood forest. If you were further north (Humboldt or Del Norte Co) I’d say it was likely an evergreen huckleberry (to 12′ tall, usually 6′). How big were the leaves? (about 1", huckleberry) Were they pointed? If they were scented, narrow (1" across), long (3-8"), and pointed it may be bay (more of a tree–20-30′). If they were broader, as long, and rounded it’s probably rhododendron. If you were further south the likely species might change a little.
Here’s a link to photos; they’ll have other photos you can look at and you can search by habitat type too (but I wouldn’t recommend it). Of course they’re not blooming now, but oh well.