Arbutus occidentalis
| Arbutus occidentalis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Arbutus |
| Species: | A. occidentalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Arbutus occidentalis McVaugh & Rosatti 1978 | |
Arbutus occidentalis is a shrub species in the heath family, that is endemic to Mexico.
Distribution
The plant is found in montane Mexico from Chihuahua to Oaxaca.[1][2][3] It is found in pine forests, spreading on cliff summits and steep rocky slopes. [4]
Description
Arbutus occidentalis is a low growing shrub, growing 0.25–1 metre (0.82–3.28 ft) in height. [4][1] In places it forms colonies more than 6 feet (1.8 m) ) wide. [4]
The branches are covered with thin red bark.[4] Leaves are 3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in) long, by 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) wide. They have teeth along the edges. [1]
The red fruits are about 0.5 inches (13 mm) across and fleshy. [4][1]
Variations
Two regional variations of Arbutus occidentalis were formerly distinguished as varieties
- Arbutus occidentalis var. occidentalis —almost smooth leaved, in Central Mexico from Durango to Jalisco in the Sierra Madre Occidental.
- Arbutus occidentalis var. villosa — leaves copiously covered beneath with wooly, villous hairs, further south from Michoacan to Oaxaca in the Sierra Madre del Sur.
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 McVaugh, Rogers & Rosatti, Thomas James. 1978. A new species of Arbutus (Ericaceae) from western Mexico. Contributions from the University of Michigan Herbarium 11(5): 301–304 includes line drawings of Arbutus occidentalis and Arbutus xalapensis on page 303
- ↑ Sørensen, P. D. 1995. Arbutus Linnaeus. Flora Neotropica, Monograph 66: 194–221.
- ↑ García-Mendoza, A. J. & J. A. Meave. 2011. Diversidad Florística de Oaxaca: de Musgos a Angispermas 1–351. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria
- 1 2 3 4 5 Pacific Horticulture magazine: "The Madrones", Spring 1983 issue.
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