Description of Tree
- Habit: Does best in sour soils with good sun exposure. It is found more in the temperate Mediterranean scrubland.
- Shape: Has a more rounded shape
- Angiosperm
- Exposure: Grows best in full sun or partial shade
- Water Needs: Does best in well drained areas that does not experience severe drought.
- Soil Type: Grows best in acidic, alkaline, loamy, moist, sandy, well drained, wide range clay soils.
- Germination: It takes the seeds from the fruit about 6 weeks to germinate under normal conditions (15 degrees celsius). It is pollinated by bees and spread through bees pollinating on other plants.
- Height: Around 15-30 feet high
- Growth Rate: Has a slow growth rate. 12 inches per year.
- Longevity: 100-400 years
- Leaves: The leaves are usually 2-3 inches long and are oval with a dark green color.
- Flowers: Blooms from October through December. Flowers are urn-shaped and pink.
- Fruit: Rough skinned red orange fruit which is edible and useful in many ways.
- Bark: Dark brown bark. Sheds in strap like fibers.
Ethnobotany
The Strawberry Tree also known as Arbutus unedo has been used many different ways by humans over the years it has been in existence. From the past to today the wood from the tree has been used to make bowls, spoons and mortars for people to eat with. Also small sticks from the tree have been used for roofing. The wood from the tree is very durable making it possible for these items to be created. The fruits from the tree are also very useful as well. The fruits are used to make delectable jams, sweets, spirits and liquors. When very ripe the fruits contain traces of alcohol making them useful in making sweet tasting liquors, this process is mostly done in Spain however. The fruit also produces a strong and bitter tasting honey which can be extracted quite easily.
Many parts of the tree have also been used in medicine in the past and today. The leaves which are rich in tannins have been used to treat diarrhea and bladder problems. Even the root has some healing power. In Valencia the root would be boiled down and consumed to treat migraines and memory loss. It would also cure some facial problems like acne, eczema and other skin diseases. The tree also holds symbolism in many different parts of the world. On Madrid's coat of arms the tree is featured together with a bear. The Romans believed the tree to be sacred and used the branch to chase away "witches". In North Africa the Arbutus tree would be planted near homes because it was believed that these trees would chase away demons.
The Strawberry Tree also known as Arbutus unedo has been used many different ways by humans over the years it has been in existence. From the past to today the wood from the tree has been used to make bowls, spoons and mortars for people to eat with. Also small sticks from the tree have been used for roofing. The wood from the tree is very durable making it possible for these items to be created. The fruits from the tree are also very useful as well. The fruits are used to make delectable jams, sweets, spirits and liquors. When very ripe the fruits contain traces of alcohol making them useful in making sweet tasting liquors, this process is mostly done in Spain however. The fruit also produces a strong and bitter tasting honey which can be extracted quite easily.
Many parts of the tree have also been used in medicine in the past and today. The leaves which are rich in tannins have been used to treat diarrhea and bladder problems. Even the root has some healing power. In Valencia the root would be boiled down and consumed to treat migraines and memory loss. It would also cure some facial problems like acne, eczema and other skin diseases. The tree also holds symbolism in many different parts of the world. On Madrid's coat of arms the tree is featured together with a bear. The Romans believed the tree to be sacred and used the branch to chase away "witches". In North Africa the Arbutus tree would be planted near homes because it was believed that these trees would chase away demons.
Current Research
In a recent study, antimicrobial activities of water and methanol extract, and three phenolic fractions of the roots of the Strawberry Tree were investigated. There was poor antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aerugionosa (both bacteria) with water and methanol extract. However there was moderate antibacterial activity shown with water and phenolic extract against Escherichia coli and S. aureus. The phytochemical screening of the roots of the Strawberry Tree revealed the presence of quinones, anthraquinoes reducteurs compounds, anthocyanins, tannins and flavonoids. After quantitative analysis it showed that the roots were strongly dominated by anthocyanins compounds.
In recent years several Mediterranean forests subject to fire are becoming increasingly dominated by the resprouter species of the Strawberry Tree. In this study scientist analyzed the effects of two post-fire treatment types, selective thinning and selective thinning plus understory clearing, on the growth of retained Strawberry Tree resprouts and the new resprouting induced by the the treatment itself. Treatment effects were analyzed at both the individual and plot level. Results showed that in short term retained resprouts on treated trees grew more in height and diameter than those on the control trees with no differences seen between treatment types. Through the middle of the treatment term all the strawberry trees occurring on treated plots grew longer, and this growth was greater in plots that had been both thinned and cleared. New induced sprouts were not affected by the type of treatment applied. From the end of the study scientist could conclude that the selective thinning of the Strawberry Tree improves coppice vertical structure. Retained resprouts grow more in diameter and will thus more rapidly become exploitable as firewood and timber. Also, the tree is kept free of dead fuel, reducing the risk of spreading fire.
Another piece of work that scientists did was test the storage ability of strawberry tree fruits for fresh consumption. Harvested fruits were stored in polystyrene foam trays covered with two film types: linear low density polyethylene of a 10um thickness or polyethylene film perforated with holes of 10mm diameter spaced 50mm. Through 15 days the fruits were stored at 0, 3 and 6 degrees celsius, the fruits were analyzed for quality parameters. Color parameters had higher decrease at 3 and 6 degrees celsius than at 0. As expected the properties maintained through 15 days storage at 0 degrees celsius followed by 3 degrees. The different types of film covers really showed no significant difference between them. The temperature of 0 degrees celsius was the best for preservation of fruit quality thought 15 days shelf-life
In a recent study, antimicrobial activities of water and methanol extract, and three phenolic fractions of the roots of the Strawberry Tree were investigated. There was poor antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aerugionosa (both bacteria) with water and methanol extract. However there was moderate antibacterial activity shown with water and phenolic extract against Escherichia coli and S. aureus. The phytochemical screening of the roots of the Strawberry Tree revealed the presence of quinones, anthraquinoes reducteurs compounds, anthocyanins, tannins and flavonoids. After quantitative analysis it showed that the roots were strongly dominated by anthocyanins compounds.
In recent years several Mediterranean forests subject to fire are becoming increasingly dominated by the resprouter species of the Strawberry Tree. In this study scientist analyzed the effects of two post-fire treatment types, selective thinning and selective thinning plus understory clearing, on the growth of retained Strawberry Tree resprouts and the new resprouting induced by the the treatment itself. Treatment effects were analyzed at both the individual and plot level. Results showed that in short term retained resprouts on treated trees grew more in height and diameter than those on the control trees with no differences seen between treatment types. Through the middle of the treatment term all the strawberry trees occurring on treated plots grew longer, and this growth was greater in plots that had been both thinned and cleared. New induced sprouts were not affected by the type of treatment applied. From the end of the study scientist could conclude that the selective thinning of the Strawberry Tree improves coppice vertical structure. Retained resprouts grow more in diameter and will thus more rapidly become exploitable as firewood and timber. Also, the tree is kept free of dead fuel, reducing the risk of spreading fire.
Another piece of work that scientists did was test the storage ability of strawberry tree fruits for fresh consumption. Harvested fruits were stored in polystyrene foam trays covered with two film types: linear low density polyethylene of a 10um thickness or polyethylene film perforated with holes of 10mm diameter spaced 50mm. Through 15 days the fruits were stored at 0, 3 and 6 degrees celsius, the fruits were analyzed for quality parameters. Color parameters had higher decrease at 3 and 6 degrees celsius than at 0. As expected the properties maintained through 15 days storage at 0 degrees celsius followed by 3 degrees. The different types of film covers really showed no significant difference between them. The temperature of 0 degrees celsius was the best for preservation of fruit quality thought 15 days shelf-life
Creative Writing
Through the bleachers by the track the sun lightens up the beautifully hidden Strawberry Tree. The succulent bright red and yellow fruit hangs in the light ready to be consumed. The buzzing of the bees is heard near the tree waiting to be pollinated. Its delicate pink flowers are starting to bloom into their roundish urn shape. The dark brown bark is starting to shed into strap like fiber revealing its brownish underbelly.
Through the bleachers by the track the sun lightens up the beautifully hidden Strawberry Tree. The succulent bright red and yellow fruit hangs in the light ready to be consumed. The buzzing of the bees is heard near the tree waiting to be pollinated. Its delicate pink flowers are starting to bloom into their roundish urn shape. The dark brown bark is starting to shed into strap like fiber revealing its brownish underbelly.
References
Strawberry Tree Arbutus Unedo." Tree Details—The Tree Guide at Arborday.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
"Strawberry Tree." Natural History Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013
Allali Hocine (Oct 2013). Journal of Saudi Chemical Society.
http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=8ddf5588-5e93-4b25-9f49-9440dd16588b%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=101&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=edo&AN=90513466
Bertsouklis Konstantinos (Mar 2013). HortScience. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=57181c43-a9bd-4918-80e4-84fc20dd714b%40sessionmgr15&vid=1&hid=3&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=aph&AN=86681610
Hasturk Sahin (2013). Journal of Tekirdag Agricultural Faculty. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?vid=3&sid=2aeb279f-5e1e-4737-a812-c664062658c3%40sessionmgr13&hid=6&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=aph&AN=89638940
Strawberry Tree Arbutus Unedo." Tree Details—The Tree Guide at Arborday.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
"Strawberry Tree." Natural History Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2013
Allali Hocine (Oct 2013). Journal of Saudi Chemical Society.
http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=8ddf5588-5e93-4b25-9f49-9440dd16588b%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=101&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=edo&AN=90513466
Bertsouklis Konstantinos (Mar 2013). HortScience. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=57181c43-a9bd-4918-80e4-84fc20dd714b%40sessionmgr15&vid=1&hid=3&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=aph&AN=86681610
Hasturk Sahin (2013). Journal of Tekirdag Agricultural Faculty. http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?vid=3&sid=2aeb279f-5e1e-4737-a812-c664062658c3%40sessionmgr13&hid=6&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=aph&AN=89638940