Arbutus menziesii, or Pacific madrone (commonly madrone or madrona in the United States and arbutus in Canada), is a species of broadleaf evergreen tree in the family Ericaceae. It has waxy foliage, a contorted growth habit, and flaky bark.

It is native to the western coastal areas of North America, from British Columbia to California.

Description

Arbutus menziesii is an evergreen tree about in height, but in the right conditions up to . The trunk is usually about thick. The thin bark is a rich orange-red, and when mature naturally peels away in thin sheets, leaving a greenish, silvery appearance that has a smooth satin sheen. Older trunks are gray-brown near the base. the stain lasts until the leaves naturally detach at the end of their lifespan.

In spring, the tree bears sprays of small white to pink bell-like flowers, madrone, madroño, madroña, or bearberry. The name strawberry tree (A. unedo) may also be found in relation to A. menziesii (though it has no relation to the strawberry fruit). According to the Sunset Western Garden Book, in the United States, the name "madrone" is more common south of the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon and Northern California and the name "madrona" is more common north of the Siskiyous. The Concow tribe calls the tree dis-tā'-tsi (Konkow language) or kou-wät′-chu. Its species name was given it in honor of the Scottish naturalist Archibald Menzies, who noted it during George Vancouver's voyage of exploration.

Distribution and habitat

Madrones are native to the western coast of North America, from British Columbia (chiefly Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands) to California. They are mainly found in Puget Sound, the Oregon Coast Range, and the California Coast Ranges, but are also scattered on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. presumably survivors from the last glacial age. Here, populations are found on Santa Cruz Island, the San Gabriel Mountains, and south to the Santa Ana Mountains, the Agua Tibia Mountains and Palomar Mountain. The southernmost population is located on Roderick Mountain overlooking the canyon of the San Luis Rey River in San Diego County, where several hundred are found. George Bishop Sudworth reported a few shrubby individuals of Pacific madrone from the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Tuñas Canyon, but others point out that there are no recorded specimens collected that far south, However, other Arbutus species are endemic to the area.

It fares well in dry and rocky sites, is tolerant of salt water, but fairly intolerant of shade. including juncos, American robins, cedar waxwings, band-tailed pigeons, varied thrushes, quail, mule deer, raccoons, ring-tailed cats, and bears. As the fruit are produced in great quantity and may persist on the tree into winter, their value as a food source is great. Mule deer will also eat the young shoots when the trees are regenerating after fire. The flowers also produce nectar which can be made into honey. Mature leaves are almost always ignored by browsing animals, but young leafy sprouts are eaten by ungulates and the dusky-footed woodrat. It is considered a high-importance winter forage species for many ungulates.

It is important as a nest site for many birds,

Thinning stands, soil loss and compaction, and a host of other impacts increase susceptibility to disease, especially on less dense stands. The fire was caused by an illegal campfire.

Cultivation

The trees are difficult to transplant and a seedling should be set in its permanent spot while still small. According to legend, Native Americans ate the berries raw and cooked, but because the berries have a high tannin content and are thus astringent, they more often chewed them or made them into a cider. Overeating causes cramps.

Early Californian settlers may have used charcoal from the species to make gunpowder. An attractive veneer can also be made from the wood. However, because large pieces of madrona lumber warp severely and unpredictably during the drying process, they are not used much. since it is a very hard and dense wood that burns long and hot, surpassing even oak in this regard. The W̱SÁNEĆ people of British Columbia have a prohibition against burning arbutus due to its salvific role in their creation myths; an arbutus anchored their canoes to the world during the deluge.

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File:MadroneLignotuber.jpg|Arbutus menziesii lignotuber near ground level provides fire-resistant storage of energy and sprouting buds if fire damage requires replacement of the trunk or limbs.

File:Arbutus menziesii (Madrone) - Flickr - brewbooks (1).jpg| Tree growing in snow at Gowlland Tod Provincial Park, British Columbia

File:Arbutus menziesii 4747.JPG|Trees growing with Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii in Anacortes, Washington

File:Arbutus menziesii 3208s.JPG|Mature trees at Deception Pass State Park

File:Arbutus menziesii Big Basin 1.jpg| Mature tree at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, California

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References

Works cited

  • Jepson Flora Project: Arbutus menziesii
  • The BC Ministry of Forests and Range Tree Book on Arbutus