Localities — On limestone rocks in Ireland. — Plentiful in the wood* of Mucruss 
and in all the islands in the lower and upper lakes of Killavney, as well as at Glen- 
gariff, near Bantry, generally among limestone rocks. About most of the mountain 
lakes in the barony of Beer, certainly indigenous : FI. Hibern. 
Tree. — Flowers from September to December. 
A busby tree, growing to the height of 20 or 30 feet ; its main 
stem, and older branches, covered with a reddish-brown bark , the 
outer layers of which come off in thin flakes. Young shoots often 
red, and rough with glandular hairs. Leaves alternate, evergreen, 
simple, elliptic-spear-shaped, unequally serrated, bright green, 
veiny, rigid, on hairy petioles, without stipulas. Racemes ( clusters ) 
panicled, bent downwards, smooth. Brae, teas oblong, recurved, 
one at the base of each partial flower-stalk. Flowers very elegant, 
of a greenish, semi-transparent white, with a shade of red, a little 
hairy within, destitute of scent. Anthers (see fig. 5.) scarlet. 
Bernj (see fig. 7.) crimson, about the size of a cherry, and covered 
with hard tubercles, which give it very much the appearance of a 
Strawberry, but the seeds are internal. 
This very beautiful, evergreen tree, is a native of the south of Europe, also of 
various parts of Asia, and of Africa, about Mount Atlas and Algiers; and it is 
particularly abundant in Italy, in the woods of the Appennines. Some consider 
it as a doubtful native of Ireland, and suppose it to have been introduced there ; 
while others are of opinion “ that it is truly an aboriginal native of that country.” 
It is one of the greatest ornaments in the months of October and November, that 
being the season when it is in flower, and the fruit of the former year is ripe, it 
taking twelve months to come to maturity ; so that, as Mr. Salisbury remarks, 
this plant exhibits simultaneously, and during the depth of Winter, the singular 
phenomenon of lively green leaves, beautiful flowers, and brilliant fruit, thus 
affording a fit emblem of that perpetual Spring which, in original perfection, 
pervaded the whole earth, when 
“ Green all the year ; and fruits and blossoms blush’d, 
In social sweetness, on the self-same bough.” 
The amiable authoress of that very elegant and pleasing work, “ The Spirit 
of the Woods,” in her description of the Arbutus, alludes to the same fact in 
the following lines: — 
“ Mark upon this lovely bough 
How in social beauty grow 
Flowers and fruit, a fairy throng, 
Fitting theme for poet’s song ; 
Sure not brighter wreaths than this 
Graced the famed Hesperides. 
Yet a lovelier sight I know ; 
(Ay, then read’st my riddle now) 
’Tis, — when in the social bower 
Wisdom’s fruit, and youth’s fair flower, 
(Combination rare as sweet) 
On the self-same scion meet.” 
The fruit is said to have constituted part of the food of mankind in the early 
ages. That it was not in any esteem among the ancients, we may suppose from 
its name Vnedo, vvhich, according to Puny, is formed from unum edo, 1 eat 
one ; because it is unpalatable, and few people would try a second : nevertheless 
it is eaten in Italy, and also in Ireland ; and in Spain they extract both a sugar 
and a spirit from it. The leaves may be usefully employed in tanning leather. 
Virgil alludes to the young branches as Winter food for goats, and to its use 
for making baskets, &c. About Killarney, in Ireland, where this tree is abund- 
ant, boxes, chess-men, &c., are made from the wood, and generally purchased 
by visitors as memorials of the place. 
