Family |
Ericaceae
Arbutus andrachne
L.
Arbutus andrachne L.
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 3, Pl. II nº 2; 1983)
Life-form & habit: Shrub or small tree, 3–5 m tall or more. Bark smooth, reddish, exfoliating in patches and revealing paler underlayers. Young twigs puberulent.
Leaves: Petiolate, coriaceous, glabrous or slightly hispid, entire or slightly dentate at the margin; lower surface often paler and somewhat glaucous. Blades ovate-elliptic, 10–15 × 4–5 cm.
Inflorescence & flowers: Terminal, upright panicles; pedicels short, with minute bracts. Calyx disk-shaped, 5-lobed. Corolla ovate-globose, white, slightly narrowed at apex, 5 mm long, with 5 short lobes.
Fruit: Globose drupe, orange-colored, ca. 1 cm in diameter, with a wrinkled but not warty surface.
Phenology: Flowers from February to April.
Habitat & elevation: Mediterranean woodland and shrubland, often prominent in the landscape.
Lebanese distribution: Ct. Around Beirut (P, Vt, Mt); Mi. Above Jall ed-Dib, ‘Antoura, Bikfaya, Beit Khachbo; ‘Akkar: near Qoubbayat.
Syrian distribution: Ct. Near Baniyas; Mi. Qadmous; Mm. East of Jabal Mattai, Col de Chatha; NLatt. Kara Dourane, Kizil Dagh.
Native range: Eastern Mediterranean, Crimea, Cyprus.