Texas madrone
Arbutus texana
Family: Ericaceae
What it is like
A small evergreen tree. The trunk is short and often crooked. It is 20 cm wide. The branches are crooked and spreading. The bark on the branches is pink and smooth. It can grow 6 m tall. The leaves are 2.5-9 cm long by 1.5-4 cm wide. They are oval and do not have teeth. The leaves are thick and stiff. The leaf stalks are slender and hairy. The leaves are shiny green above and paler and slightly hairy underneath. The flowers are 6 mm long. They are jug shaped and white or with a tinge of pink. They are in upright branched clusters. These are 6 cm long and wide. The fruit are 10 mm across and berry-like. They are red or yellowish and with a finely rough skin. There is a large stone with many seeds. The pulp is mealy and sweet.
There are 14 Arbutus species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in canyons and rocky slopes in mountains between 600-1800 m altitude in SE regions of the USA.
Countries/locations it is found in
Central America, Mexico, North America, USA
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit