BOTANY. 
23 
Arbutus Menziesii, Pursh. The Madrona. 
A. Menziesii, Pursli. Flor. 1 , p. 282. 
A. procera, Dougl. Mss. Hook. Flor. Bor. Amer. 2, p. 36. 
Fig, 2. Branch with leaves and fruit of A. Menziesii, l natural size. 
Fig. 2 a. Flowers of A. Menziesii, 1 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, ornamen-al. 
The Madrona, 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. 
