Arbutus arizonica

Common Name: Arizona Madrone
Oˊodham Name: [unknown]
Group: Shrubs, Trees － Chaparral (upper), Madrean Woodland

Description

Arbutus arizonica is a small tree with light gray shaggy bark and reddish stems. The petioles, primary leaf vein, and leaf margins also are red. At first glance it might be mistaken for an oak or Manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens) as it is often found growing among them. But Arizona Madrone grows more vertically, into sizeable tree whereas Manzanita remains a large, dense shrub. This species grows in gravelly soils above 5000 feet.

Classification

Kingdom Plantae － Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta － Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta － Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta － Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida － Dicotyledons

Subclass Dilleniidae

Order Ericales

Family Ericaceae － Heath family

Genus Arbutus L. － madrone

Species Arbutus arizonica (A. Gray) Sarg. － Arizona madrone

More Information

USDA Plant Profile and Map