Arbutus

 

You ever notice that trees do everything to git attention we do, except walk?

Alice Walker, African American novelist and author of The Color Purple

 

 
Twisted Arbutus branches, Sooke Harbour, Vancouver Island, BC

Twisted Arbutus branches at Sooke Harbour, Vancouver Island, BC

 

 

Arbutus, still with last year's leaves, early March at Durrance Lake Vancouver Island, Canada   Arbutus in bloom, early March, Patricia Bay BC, by the Victoria Airport   Arbutus branches, Sooke Harbour, Vancouver Island, BC   Arbutus, Mt. Douglas, Victoria, BC   Arbutus, Sooke Harbour, BC
                 
Arbutus bark variety and characteristic bump   Arbutus aged bark   Arbutus, smooth aged bark under rough layer   Older Arbutus, Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada   Trunk scars from carved initials
                 
Characteristic bumps on older trees   Arbutus: colorful bark   Arbutus bark, characteristic shedding   Arbutus branch, scars from carved initials   Arbutus colorful bark
                 
Arbutus bark variation, Mt. Douglas Park, Victoria BC   Arbutus - exposed bark is smooth and soft, easy to scratch marks into, Patricia Bay BC   Arbutus berries, edible but contain high levels of tanin   Arbutus, Vancouver Island   Trunk scars from carved initials
                 
Arbutus, Victoria Park, Vancouver Island, BC   Characteristic bumps on older trees   Arbutus shedding outer layer   Trunk scars from carved initials   Older Arbutus, Salt Spring Island, BC, Canada

 

 
This is my favorite tree because of its quirky and interesting nature. The colors and textures of the bark all depend on the age of the tree, as do the odd trunk bumps and twisted branch shapes.
Arbutus, also known as Pacific Madrone is a genus of at least 14 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae, native to warm temperate regions of the Mediterranean, western Europe, and North America. On the Pacific coast of USA and Canada, this evergreen tree can reach heights of 90 feet (27 m).
 

 
Arbutus, Sooke Point, Vancouver Island, BC
 

 
The Straits Salish people of Vancouver Island used arbutus bark and leaves to create medicines for colds, stomach problems, and tuberculosis, and even as the basis for contraceptives. The fruit is edible but has minimal flavor and the berries have a high tannin content, so they are more often made into a cider. Many animals feed off the berries, and deer will also eat the young shoots when the trees are regenerating after fire.

The timber distorts during drying and is not much used, but recently it has become more popular in the Pacific Northwest as a flooring material due to the durability of the wood and the warm color after finishing. Mostly the wood is sought for its heating capabilities since it burns long and hot in fireplaces.

Although drought tolerant and relatively fast growing, the Pacific Madrone is currently declining throughout most of its range. Mature trees produce very large numbers of seeds, which sprout following fire. Since the arrival of Europeans in North America, fire suppression has resulted in a reduction of the range of this beautiful tree. Increasing development pressures in Pacific Madrone habitat have also contributed to a decline in the number of mature trees.
 

 

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