Arbutus xalapensis

Arbutus xalapensis
File:Arbutus xalapensis Guadalupe Peak.jpg
Conservation status
Conservation Dependent (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Ericaceae
Genus:	Arbutus
Species:	A. xalapensis
Binomial name
Arbutus xalapensis Kunth 1819 not Hook. 1836
Synonyms
Synonymy Arbutus densiflora Kunth Arbutus densiflora Benth. Arbutus densiflora var. petiolaris (Kunth) Loes. Arbutus donnell-smithii Small Arbutus floribunda M.Martens & Galeotti Arbutus glandulosa M.Martens & Galeotti Arbutus laurifolia Lindl. Arbutus laurina M.Martens & Galeotti Arbutus macrophylla M.Martens & Galeotti Arbutus mollis Kunth Arbutus paniculata M.Martens & Galeotti Arbutus peninsularis Rose & Goldman Arbutus petiolaris Kunth Arbutus prunifolia Klotzsch Arbutus rubescens Bertol. Arbutus texana Buckley Arbutus varians Benth. Arbutus villosa Willd. ex Klotzsch Arbutus xalapensis var. pubescens Benth. Arbutus xalapensis var. texana A.Gray Arbutus xalapensis subsp. texana (Buckley) A.E.Murray Arctostaphylos rubescens (Bertol.) Hemsl. Comarostaphylis glauca Buckley Comarostaphylis rubescens (Bertol.) Klotzsch

Arbutus xalapensis, commonly known as the Texas Madrone, Naked Indian Tree or Texas Madroño, is a species of flowering plant in the heather family. It is native to Mexico, Central America, and the southwestern United States (western Texas and New Mexico). It is found in canyons and mountains, on rocky plains, and in oak woodlands, at altitudes of up to 3,000 m (10,000 feet) in the south of the range, but lower, down to 600 m (1800 feet) in the north of the range.

Arbutus xalapensis is a large shrub or small to medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 5–25 meters (17-84 feet) tall with a trunk up to 50 cm (20 inches) in diameter, with smooth orange-brown bark peeling in thin sheets. The size varies regionally with available rainfall, with small, shrubby plants in dry areas such as western Texas and New Mexico, and larger trees in moister areas of Mexico; plants in Texas, New Mexico, and the far northeast of Mexico are distinguished as a variety, A. xalapensis var. texana, or even a distinct species A. texana, by some botanists, but others do not regard these as distinct.

The leaves are oblong to lanceolate, 5–17 cm (2.0-6.8 inches) long and 1.5–5 cm (0.6-2.0 inches) broad, with an entire or serrated margin. The flowers are bell-shaped, white or pale pink, 5–10 mm long, produced in loose panicles. The fruit is a rough-surfaced edible red berry 1 cm (0.4 inches) in diameter, containing numerous small seeds.

• Arbutus xalapensis flowers 1.JPG

  Flowers

• Texas Madrone in Guadalupe Mountains.JPG

  Berries

External links

• Germplasm Resources Information Network−GRIN: Arbutus xalapensis
• (Spanish) Bosques Tropicales y Subtropicales: Arbutus xalapensis
• (Spanish) Bosques de Encino, Pino y Pino-Encino: Arbutus xalapensis
• Plants for a Future: Arbutus xalapensis
• National Audubon Society, Field Guide to Trees, Western Region, North America, 1980, pgs. 578 & 579.
• Data related to Arbutus xalapensis at Wikispecies