Arbutus xalapensis

Arbutus xalapensis
Conservation status

Conservation Dependent  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Arbutus
Species: A. xalapensis
Binomial name
Arbutus xalapensis
Kunth
Natural range of Arbutus xalapensis

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

It is a large shrub or small to medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 5–25 m tall with a trunk up to 50 cm 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 long and 1.5–5 cm 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 diameter, containing numerous small seeds.

References

  1. ↑ Ramirez-Marcial, N. & González-Espinosa, M. 1998. Arbutus xalapensis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 20 August 2007.

External links

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