Ravenmount Bookworms

Giuseppe Mentessi (Italian, 1857-1931)

A bronze pear-shaped vase Korea, 13th century

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 28 December 2022

A small, spreading, evergreen tree Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree, Dalmatian strawberry, Killarney strawberry tree) thrives in a sunny, sheltered location. The urn-shaped, white flowers often appear as the strawberry-like fruits, from the previous years flowers, ripen. The multiple trunks have flaking red-brown bark.

The common name of the tree Arbutus menziesii depends on where you are or where you are from.

North American members of the genus are called Madrones, from the Spanish name madroño (strawberry tree) although this terminology is not used in Canada. The European species are also called Strawberry Trees from the superficial resemblance of the fruit to a strawbrry; some species are sometimes referred to simply as the “Arbutus”.

In the United States, the name “Madrone” is used south of the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon/northern California and the name “Madrona” is used north of the Siskiyou Mountains according to the “Sunset Western Garden Book”. In British Columbia, the trees are simply known by the name “Arbutus.”

All refer to the same tree, Arbutus menziesii, native to the Pacific Northwest and Northern California regions. It is Canada’s only native broadleaved evergreen tree. Some species in the genera Epigaea, Arctostaphylos and Gaultheria were formerly classified in Arbutus. As a result of its past classification, Epigaea repens (Mayflower) has an alternative common name of “trailing arbutus”.”

13.05-23

Misc.

The inner cover of the book "La nave" by Gabriele D'Annunzio, Fratelli Treves Editori, Milano, 1908