Arbutus xalapensis

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Ordo: Ericales

Familia: Ericaceae
Subfamilia: Arbutoideae
Genus: Arbutus
Species: Arbutus xalapensis
Name

Arbutus xalapensis Kunth in Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth, Nov. gen. sp. 3: 279. 1819.
Synonyms

Heterotypic
Arbutus densiflora Kunth in Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 3: 220, tab. 260. 1819.
Arbutus densiflora Benth., Pl. Hartw. 15. 1839, nom. illeg. non Kunth (1819).
Arbutus donnell-smithii Small, N. Amer. Fl. 29(1): 85. 1914.
Arbutus floribunda M.Martens & Galeotti, Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 9: 534. 1842.
Arbutus glandulosa M.Martens & Galeotti, Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 9: 533. 1842.
Arbutus laurina M.Martens & Galeotti, Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 9: 535. 1842.
Arbutus macrophylla M.Martens & Galeotti, Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 9: 529. 1842.
Arbutus paniculata M.Martens & Galeotti, Bull. Acad. Roy. Sci. Bruxelles 9: 535. 1842.
Arbutus petiolaris Kunth in Humboldt, Bonpland & Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. 3: 22. 1819.
Arbutus densiflora var. petiolaris (Kunth)Loes., Bull. Herb. Boissier, sér. 2, 3: 219. 1903
Arbutus texana Buckley, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 13: 460. 1862.
Arbutus xalapensis Kunth var. texana (Buckley) A.Gray, Syn. Fl. N. Amer. ed. 2, 2 (1): 397. 1886.
Arbutus xalapensis subsp. texana (Buckley) A.E.Murray, Kalmia 12: 18. 1982.
Arbutus varians Benth., Pl. Hartw. 77. 1841.
Arbutus laurifolia Lindl., Edwards's Bot. Reg. 25: t. 67. 1839.
Arbutus peninsularis Rose & Goldman, Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 13: 312. 1911.
Arbutus prunifolia Klotzsch, Linnaea 24: 73. 1851.
Arbutus rubescens Bertol., Fl. Guatimal.: 20. 1840.
Comarostaphylis rubescens (Bertol.) Klotzsch, Linnaea 24: 77. 1851.
Arctostaphylos rubescens (Bertol.) Hemsl., Biol. Cent.-Amer., Bot. 2: 279. 1881.
Arbutus villosa Willd. ex Klotzsch, Linnaea 24: 72. 1851.
Comarostaphylis glauca Buckley, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 13: 461. 1862.
Arbutus xalapensis var. pubescens Benth.

Notes
Homonyms

Arbutus floribunda Dippel (1889) = Gaultheria phillyreifolia (Pers.) Sleumer

Distribution
Native distribution areas:
References

Humboldt, A., Bonpland, A. & Kunth, C.S. 1818–1820 ["1818"]. Nova genera et species plantarum, quas in peregrinatione ad plagam aequinoctialem orbis novi collegerunt, descripserunt, partim adumbraverunt Amat. Bonpland et Alex. de Humboldt. Tomus 3 (quarto ed.). 456 pp., tt. 193–300. Sumtibus Librariae Graeco-Latino-Germanicae, Lutetiae Parisiorum [Paris]. BHL Reference page.
Sørensen, P.D. 1995. Arbutus. Pp. 194–221 in: Luteyn, J.L. (ed.): Ericaceae, Part II, the superior-ovaried genera. Flora Neotropica, Monograph. 66. JSTOR Extract
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Arbutus xalapensis in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.
USDA NRCS PLANTS Profile

Vernacular names
English: Texas Madrone
español: Madroño Méxicano

Arbutus xalapensis, commonly known as the Texas madrone, Amazaquitl, or Texas madroño[3], is a species of flowering plant in the heather family. It is native to Central America, the southwestern United States (western Texas and New Mexico), and throughout Mexico.[4][5] 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.[6]

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 red berry 1 cm (0.4 inches) in diameter, reportedly edible (however, those of related species have narcotic properties), and contains numerous small seeds.[6][7]

References

Worcester, L. (2021). "Arbutus xalapensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T38918A117413519. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T38918A117413519.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
The Plant List, Arbutus xalapensis Kunth
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
SEINet, Southwestern Biodiversity, Arizona chapter photos, description, distribution map
Flora of North America, Arbutus xalapensis Kunth, 1819. Texas madrone
Little, Elbert L. (1980). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region. New York: Knopf. p. 622. ISBN 0-394-50760-6.