arbutus

arbutus
/ahr byooh"teuhs/, n., pl. arbutuses.
1. any of the evergreen shrubs or trees belonging to the genus Arbutus, of the heath family, esp. A. unedo, of southern Europe, with scarlet berries, cultivated for ornament and food.
[1545-55; < NL, L: the wild strawberry tree]

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Any of about 14 species (genus Arbutus) of broad-leaved evergreen shrubs or trees, in the heath family.

Native to southern Europe and western North America, they are characterized by loosely clustered white or pink flowers and red or orange berries. A. menziesii (variously known as the madrona, Pacific madrona, laurelwood, and Oregon laurel) and A. unedo (the strawberry tree) are cultivated as ornamentals. The trailing arbutus belongs to the genus Epigaea.

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▪ tree genus
 genus of about 14 species of broad-leaved evergreen shrubs or trees, of the heath family (Ericaceae), characterized by white or pink flowers in loose, terminal clusters and by many-seeded, fleshy, red or orange berries with a distinctive irregular surface; the leaves are alternate and stalked. The plants are native to southern Europe and western North America. A. menziesii and A. unedo are cultivated as ornamentals.

      A. menziesii, variously known as the madrona, Pacific madrona, laurelwood, and Oregon laurel, occurs in western North America from British Columbia to California. It grows about 23 metres (75 feet) tall. The dark, oblong, glossy leaves are from 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 inches) long and are coloured grayish green beneath. The whitish flowers grow in pyramidal clusters 7–23 cm (3–9 inches) tall. As the tree grows, the old bark peels off, revealing reddish or cinnamon-coloured bark beneath.

      A. unedo is the strawberry tree, native to southwestern Europe but introduced into warm regions of western North America. It grows from 3 to 9 metres (10 to 30 feet) tall, with one to several trunks, and has lustrous elliptic or oblong leaves about 9 cm (3.5 inches) long. The branches are sticky and hairy. The white or pinkish flowers droop in clusters, and the fruit, edible but tasteless, resembles a strawberry in size and colour.

      The trailing arbutus belongs to the genus Epigaea, also a member of Ericaceae.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Arbutus — Arbutus …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Arbutus — Ar bu*tus, Arbute Ar bute, n. [L. arbutus, akin to arbor tree.] The strawberry tree, a genus of evergreen shrubs, of the Heath family. It has a berry externally resembling the strawberry; the arbute tree. [1913 Webster] {Trailing arbutus} (Bot.) …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Arbutus — Arbutus, MD U.S. Census Designated Place in Maryland Population (2000): 20116 Housing Units (2000): 8380 Land area (2000): 6.502061 sq. miles (16.840261 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.001829 sq. miles (0.004737 sq. km) Total area (2000): 6.503890… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Arbutus, MD — U.S. Census Designated Place in Maryland Population (2000): 20116 Housing Units (2000): 8380 Land area (2000): 6.502061 sq. miles (16.840261 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.001829 sq. miles (0.004737 sq. km) Total area (2000): 6.503890 sq. miles (16 …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • arbutus — [är byo͞ot′əs] n. [L, wild strawberry tree] 1. any of a genus (Arbutus) of trees or shrubs of the heath family, with dark green leaves, clusters of white or pinkish flowers, and small strawberrylike fruit; esp., the madroño and the strawberry… …   English World dictionary

  • Arbūtus — (A. L.), Pflanzengattung aus der Familie der Heidekräuter (Ericaceae Andromedeae), 10. Kl. 1. Ordn. L., mit fünfspaltigem Kelche, fast eiförmiger fünfspaltiger Blumenkrone, 10 Staubgefäßen, deren Beutel an der Spitze mit 2 kleinen Öffnungen… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Arbūtus — L. (Sandbeere), Gattung der Erikazeen, immergrüne Sträucher und niedere Bäume mit großen, lederartigen Blättern, Blütenrispen an der Spitze der Zweige, weißen oder blaßroten Blüten und kugeliger, fleischiger, warziger, mehrsamiger Beere. Über 20… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Arbutus — Arbŭtus L., Erdbeerbaum, Pflanzengattg. der Erikazeen. A. unĕdo L. [Abb. 106], südeurop. Strauch, dessen erdbeerartige Früchte zur Bereitung eines Branntweins benutzt werden; bei uns häufig Zierstrauch …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Arbutus — Arbutus, der Erdbeerbaum …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Arbutus — Arbutus,   der Erdbeerbaum.   …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Arbutus —   Arbutus Arbutus menziesii …   Wikipedia Español

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