Arbutus menziesii
Arbutus xalapensis
arbutus, madrone, madrono, Pacific arbutus, Pacific madrona, Pacific madrone
Texas madrone
larger on sterile shoots with longer internodes;
petiole 2–4.5 cm, base slightly decurrent, glabrous, sometimes with hairs adaxially;
blade glaucous-green abaxially, olive-green adaxially (leaves of previous season turning yellow and red in June and July before they fall), elliptic, 6.5–13 × 3.5–6(–8) cm, base usually rounded, sometimes slightly cordate, rarely tapered, apex usually rounded or acute, rarely with short cusp, surfaces glabrescent (sparingly hairy on newly emerging leaves).
± equal in size throughout;
petiole 1.2–2.5 cm, base slightly decurrent, glabrate;
blade green or slightly lighter green abaxially, pale or bright olive-green or glaucous-green, elliptic or slightly ovate-elliptic, (2.5–)4–6(–7.5) × (1.2–)1.8–3(–4) cm, base usually tapered, rarely slightly cordate, (margins smooth or irregularly toothed on sprouts), apex acute or obtuse, surfaces glabrous or ± hairy.
(often compound), congested or not;
axes hairy ± throughout, hairs not glandular.
(often showy), varying from densely clustered or openly-branched to relatively few-flowered;
axes hairy, with both glandular and eglandular hairs intermixed.
accrescent, initially pendulous, becoming stiffly erect, 3–5(–6.2) mm, (to 6–8 mm in fruit), sometimes sparsely glandular-hairy;
bract clasping base, rust-colored, scalelike, 2–3.5 mm.
accrescent, obliquely erect to pendulous, 1.6–3.2 mm, hairy, with both glandular and eglandular hairs intermixed;
bract (accrescent), clasping base, reddish or tan, scalelike, 1.3–2 mm (to 2.9–3 mm in fruit).
calyx creamy tan at anthesis, lobes 1–2.1 mm, apex blunt;
corolla 4.9–5.8 mm;
anthers 1–1.2 mm, spurs usually slightly exceeding length of thecae;
ovary with 2–5 ovules per locule.
calyx tan (sometimes with blush of pink), (1.8–3 mm), lobes 1–1.2 mm, apex obtuse or rounded;
corolla 5.1–5.4(–6.1) mm (the larger on rapidly developing, more open, and elongated inflorescences);
anthers ca. 1.5 mm, spurs 1/2–3/4 times length of thecae;
ovary with 2–3(–5) ovules per locule.
red or orange-red, 13–20 mm diam.
deep red or blackish red, 5.5–7.5 mm diam.
2–2.5 mm.
2.5–3 mm.
= 26.
Arbutus menziesii
Arbutus xalapensis
References to the presence of Arbutus menziesii in the San Pedro Martír Mountains of northern Baja California have not been supported by vouchers. Its southernmost area of occurrence is in San Diego County, California, where it is rare. Its range extends northward along the coast to British Columbia (about 50° north latitude, in the vicinity of Seymour Narrows).
The smooth, red bark and its mid-season exfoliation mark Arbutus menziesii as a distinct species and one much sought as an attractive landscape tree. People who have acquired property with native individuals of the species already present are very lucky because transplants of young saplings for landscaping seldom succeed. Cultivation from seed seems to be successful.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Arbutus xalapensis is frequent in the Edwards Plateau hill country southwest of Austin, Texas, where it is associated with junipers, oaks, and mesquite at moderate elevations. Westward, in the Chisos, Davis, and Guadalupe mountains, it occurs in the pinyon-juniper zone at higher elevations (to 2200 meters). In the Animas Mountains of Hidalgo County, southwestern New Mexico, A. xalapensis has limited contact with A. arizonica, and some herbarium specimens suggest that hybridization occurs there. Confirmation will require a more detailed analysis of those populations.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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