BOTANY. 



23 



Arbutus Menziesii, Pursh. The Madrofia. 



A. Menziesii, Pursh. Flor. l,p. 282. 



A. procera, JDougl. Mss. Hook. Flor. Bor. Amer. 2, p. 36. 



Fig, 2. Branch with leaves and fruit of A. Menziesii, J natural size. 

 Fig. 2a. Flowers of A. Menziesii, J natural size. 



Description. — A small tree, 25-30 feet high, 12 inches in diameter at base; hark exfoliating, 

 green or reddish, according to the season, very smooth ; leaves oval, petiolate, entire or sub- 

 serrate, very smooth above, glaucous below ; flowers urceolate, in elongated and clustered 

 pubescent racemes ; berries red, rough, many-seeded, ornamental. 



The Madrofia, as it is called in California, has a wide range on the Pacific coast. It is not uncom- 

 mon in the Sacramento valley, and the largest trees of it which I saw were on the banks of the 

 Willamette, in Oregon. It ranges north of the Columbia, and in that vicinity is called the laurel. 



The large, thick and shining leaves, and the smooth and colored bark, give this tree a tropical 

 look, recalling the Magnolia grandiflora of the southern States by its general aspect. The 

 berries are red, (at least were so in Oregon in November,) and resemble morello cherries ; when 

 ripe they are quite ornamental, and are said to be sometimes eaten. They, with the rich foliage, 

 flowers, and colored bark, render it one of the handsomest trees which I saw at the west. It 

 is already adopted as an ornament to grounds in California, and is well worthy of an effort for 

 its introduction into the eastern States. 



The wood, like that of the manzanita, is very hard and fine grained. 



