AR'BUTUS SPECIO'SA. 
SHOWY STRAWBERRY TREE. 
Class. 
DECANDRIA. 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
ericacea:. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Habit. 
Introduced 
Mexico. 
4 feet. 
June. 
Shrub. 
in 1637. 
No. 1132. 
Whether the name Arbutus was deduced from 
the Celtic ar boise, a rough bush ; or the Latin 
arbos, tree, is now unknown. The ancient Greeks 
had no such name ; they were acquainted with our 
Strawberry Tree ; but this they called Comaros. 
The Arbutus speciosa was introduced to our gar- 
dens through the London Horticultural Society; 
seeds having been imported from Mexico, and 
plants first propagated in the Society’s garden. 
The abundance of flowers produced by this Ar- 
butus makes it exceedingly desirable; its handsome 
evergreen foliage also, — very distinct from the com- 
mon Arbutus, will assist in giving variety to our 
winter-brightening shrubs. The height which it 
will attain in this country cannot, with certainty, 
be stated; that which we have quoted being the 
greatest we have seen. 
We are not sure that this species is as hardy as 
the common Arbutus unedo, inasmuch as we have 
not seen it exposed to severe frosts. It may be 
propagated from cuttings ; but strong plants may 
be more readily obtained by grafting it on the 
common species. 
