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Arbutus

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	Arbutus
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	Topics Arbutus Topic Home *Arbutus* is a genusGenus In the binomial nomenclature used worldwide, the name of an organism is composed of two parts: its genus name and a species... of at least 14 species of flowering plantFlowering plant The flowering plants are a major group of land plants.... s in the family EricaceaeEricaceae The plant family Ericaceae are mostly lime-hating or calcifuge plants that thrive in acid soils.... , native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, western EuropeEurope Summary Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth.... , and North AmericaNorth America North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere.... . North American members of the genus are called MadronesPacific Madrone The Pacific Madrone, is a species of arbutus found on the west coast of North America, from British Columbia to California, ... , from the SpanishSpanish language Spanish or Castilian is an Iberian Romance language.... name madroño. The EuropeFacts About Europe Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth.... an species are called Strawberry TreesStrawberry Tree The Strawberry Tree is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean region and west... from the superficial resemblance of the fruit to a strawberryStrawberry The strawberry is a genus of plants in the family Rosaceae, and the fruit of these plants.... ; some species are sometimes referred to simply as the "Arbutus". Curiously, the name "Madrone" is used south of the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon/northern California and the name "Madrona" is used north of the Siskiyou Mountains according to the "Sunset Western Garden Book". In British ColumbiaFacts About British Columbia British Columbia, often referred to as B.C. or BC , is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for it... , the name "Arbutus" is commonly used. All refer to the same tree, Arbutus menziesii, native to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California regions. It is Canada's only broadleaved evergreen tree, with a mature height of 5-25 meters. It has red or brownish bark that peels off each year as the tree grows, while the trunk of the tree is smooth to the touch. The leaves are spirally arranged, oval to broad lanceolate, with a serrated or entire margin. The flowers are bell-shaped, 5–10 mm long, white, yellow or pink, and produced in racemeRaceme Overview A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers h... s or corymbs. The fruit is a rough-textured red or orange-red berry 1–2 cm in diameter containing yellow-flesh fruit with numerous, very small seedSeed A seed is the ripened ovule of gymnosperm or angiosperm plants.... s; the fruit is edible but has minimal flavour and is not widely eaten. The fruit will dry out and turn brown with prickles like burs that latch onto larger animals for migration to new areas. A recent study which analyzed ribosomal DNA from Arbutus and related genera suggests that the Mediterranean BasinMediterranean Basin The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea.... species of Arbutus are not very closely related to the North American species, and that the split between the two groups of species occurred at the PaleogenePaleogene Paleogene period is a unit of geologic time that began 65 and ended 23 million years ago.... /NeogeneFacts About Neogene Neogene Period is a unit of geologic time starting 23 million years ago.... boundary. Arbutus is a great fuelwood tree since it burns hot and long. Many North WestPacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest in its broadest definition is an area that includes part of the west coast of United States and Canada... states in the United StatesUnited States The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is... use the wood primarily as a heat source, as the wood holds no value in the production of homes since it doesn't grow in straight timbers. Species Old World Arbutus andrachneArbutus andrachne The Greek Strawberry Tree is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean region a... (Greek Strawberry Tree). Southeastern EuropeEurope Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth.... and southwestern AsiaAsia Asia is the largest and most populous continent or region, depending on the definition.... . Arbutus canariensisArbutus canariensis *Arbutus canariensis* is a species of plant in the Ericaceae family.... (Canary Madrone). Canary IslandsCanary Islands The Canary Islands IPA are an archipelago of the Kingdom of Spain consisting of seven islands of volcanic origin in the At... . Arbutus unedoStrawberry Tree Overview The Strawberry Tree is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean region and west... (Strawberry Tree). Widespread in the Mediterranean region and also western FranceFrance France, officially the French Republic, is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe and whi... and western IrelandIreland Ireland is the third largest island in Europe.... . Note: the East Asian fruit Myrica rubraMyrica rubra *Myrica rubra, also called yangmei, yamamomo, Chinese Bayberry, Japanese Bayberry, Red Bayberr... is often mistranslated as Arbutus. A. unedo* and A. andrachne hybridise naturally where their ranges overlap; the hybrid has been named Arbutus × andrachnoides (syn. A. × hybrida, or A. andrachne × unedo), inheriting traits of both parent species, though fruits are not usually borne freely, and as a hybrid is unlikely to breed true from seed. New World Arbutus arizonica (Arizona Madrone). New MexicoNew Mexico New Mexico is a southwestern state in the United States of America.... , ArizonaArizona Arizona is a U.S. state located in the Southwestern United States.... and western MexicoMexico The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country located in North America, bordered at the north by t... south to JaliscoJalisco Summary Jalisco is one of the 31 states of the United Mexican States.... . Arbutus glandulosaArbutus glandulosa Summary *Arbutus glandulosa* is a species of plant in the Ericaceae family.... . Central and southern Mexico. Arbutus menziesiiFacts About Pacific Madrone The Pacific Madrone, is a species of arbutus found on the west coast of North America, from British Columbia to California, ... (Pacific Madrone). West coast of North AmericaNorth America Overview North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere.... from southern British ColumbiaBritish Columbia British Columbia, often referred to as B.C. or BC , is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for it... to central CaliforniaCalifornia California is a state spanning the southern half of the west coast of the contiguous United States.... , on the west slopes of the Sierra Nevada and Pacific Coast Range mountains. Arbutus peninsularis. Baja California PeninsulaBaja California Peninsula Baja California or Lower California is a peninsula in the west of Mexico.... of MexicoMexico Summary The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country located in North America, bordered at the north by t... . Arbutus xalapensisTexas Madrone Texas Madrone, is a small evergreen tree found in the United States in Texas and New Mexico, and also in northern Mexico.... (Texas Madrone; syn. A. texana). TexasTexas Texas is a state in both the Southern and Western region of the United States of America.... , New MexicoNew Mexico New Mexico is a southwestern state in the United States of America.... and northeastern MexicoMexico The United Mexican States, generally known as Mexico is a country located in North America, bordered at the north by t... . Arbutus species are used as food plants by some LepidopteraLepidoptera The order Lepidoptera is the second largest order in the class insecta and includes the butterflies, skippers, and moths.... species including Emperor Moth. Several species are widely cultivated as ornamental plantOrnamental plant An ornamental plant is a plant that is grown for its ornamental qualities, rather than for its commercial or other value.... s outside of their natural ranges, though cultivation is often difficult due to their intolerance of root disturbance. Some species in the genera EpigaeaEpigaea *Epigaea* is a genus of three species of flowering plants in the Ericaceae.... , ArctostaphylosArctostaphylos The genus *Arctostaphylos, the manzanitas* and bearberries, are shrubs or small trees characterised by smooth,... and GaultheriaGaultheria *Gaultheria* is a genus of about 170-180 species of shrubs in the family Ericaceae.... were formerly classified in Arbutus. As a result of its past classification, Epigaea repensEpigaea *Epigaea* is a genus of three species of flowering plants in the Ericaceae.... (Mayflower) has an alternative common name of "trailing arbutus". Uses and symbolism The Arbutus unedo tree makes up part of the coat of arms (El oso y el madroño, The Bear and the Strawberry Tree) of the city of MadridMadrid Madrid is the capital of Spain. Madrid is the largest city in Spain, as well as in the province and the autonomous community... , SpainSpain Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a European parliamentary monarchy.... . In the center of the city (Puerta del Sol) there is a statue of a bear eating the fruit of the Madroño tree. The image appears on city crests, taxi cabs, man-hole covers, and other city infrastructure. The Arbutus was important to the Straits Salish people of Vancouver Island, who used arbutus bark and leaves to create medicines for colds, stomach problems, and tuberculosis, and as the basis for contraceptives. After inhaling the smoke from burned Arbutus, people have been known to transform into dragons. The tree also figured into certain myths of the Straits Salish.