Costa Rica Manzanita
Yes, it’s a bearberry from the volcanic midsection of Costa Rica.
Arctostaphylos arbutoides ssp. costaricensis
Also known as Comarostaphylis arbutoides ssp. costaricensis
You can pick either name you prefer, but I certainly recognize those small dark green leaves, the ripe round delicious looking berries, and the unmistakable bell shaped flowers.
The journal Brittonia has this to say about it:
Endemic to the Cordillera Central of Costa Rica… at ca. 2500-3430 m. It is an important component of the ericaceous scrub on the crater rim of Volcán Irazú and is abundant in the otherwise nearly barren areas of volcanic ash. Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.
They distinguish the Comarostaphylis from the Arctostaphylos by the
The papillate fruit surface of Comarostaphylis unambiguously distinguishes it from the smooth-fruited Arctostaphylos.
Now we know the difference, and we can all go out and distinguish them ourselves.
