OregonFlora: Arbutus menziesii

	Arbutus menziesii
	Pacific madrone
Habit	Shrubs and trees to 35 m; bark red and smooth to reddish brown and exfoliating.
Leaves	ovate to elliptic, 7–15 cm, pale green abaxially, dark green and shiny adaxially; margins entire to minutely serrate; petioles 1–2.5 cm.
Inflorescences	5–15 cm, pubescent; bracts ovate, 4–6 mm; whitish.
Flowers	sepals ovate, 0.5–1.5 mm; thin; corollas urceolate, 5–8 mm, white to pinkish; lobes very short, reflexed.
Fruits	globose, 8–12 mm in diameter, orange to bright red, roughened by glandular-warty projections.
Seeds	2–3 mm, light brown.
2n	=26.

	Arbutus menziesii
Distribution	[WildflowerSearch map] [BONAP county map]
Discussion	Coniferous and mixed forests, rocky meadows. Flowering Mar–Jun. 0–1600 m. Casc, CR, Sisk, WV. CA, WA; north to British Columbia. Native. The largest of the ericaceous species in Oregon, Arbutus menziesii is easily identifiable by its size and exfoliating bark. This tree is popular in cultivation throughout the Northwest and is often seen in parks and gardens. Native Americans found a variety of uses for the fruits, bark, and leaves. Its fragrant flowers and brightly colored fruit are attractive to wildlife as well.
Source	Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 617 Stephen Meyers
Web links	Local floras: BC, CA, OR, WA Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos, Flora NW, PNW Herbaria WildflowerSearch iNaturalist (observations) USDA Plants Database LBJ Wildflower Center SEINet Plants of the World Online Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Google Image Search

Arbutus menziesii

Pacific madrone

Habit

Shrubs and trees to 35 m; bark red and smooth to reddish brown and exfoliating.

Leaves

ovate to elliptic, 7–15 cm, pale green abaxially, dark green and shiny adaxially;

margins entire to minutely serrate;

petioles 1–2.5 cm.

Inflorescences

5–15 cm, pubescent;

bracts ovate, 4–6 mm; whitish.

Flowers

sepals ovate, 0.5–1.5 mm; thin;

corollas urceolate, 5–8 mm, white to pinkish;

lobes very short, reflexed.

Fruits

globose, 8–12 mm in diameter, orange to bright red, roughened by glandular-warty projections.

Seeds

2–3 mm, light brown.

=26.

Arbutus menziesii

Distribution

[WildflowerSearch map]

[BONAP county map]

Discussion

Coniferous and mixed forests, rocky meadows. Flowering Mar–Jun. 0–1600 m. Casc, CR, Sisk, WV. CA, WA; north to British Columbia. Native.

The largest of the ericaceous species in Oregon, Arbutus menziesii is easily identifiable by its size and exfoliating bark. This tree is popular in cultivation throughout the Northwest and is often seen in parks and gardens. Native Americans found a variety of uses for the fruits, bark, and leaves. Its fragrant flowers and brightly colored fruit are attractive to wildlife as well.

Source

Flora of Oregon, volume 2, page 617
Stephen Meyers

Web links