Texas madrone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Texas madrone |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Arbutus
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| Species: |
xalapensis
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| Synonyms | |
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Synonymy
Arbutus densiflora Kunth
Arbutus densiflora Benth. Arbutus densiflora var. petiolaris (Kunth) Loes. Arbutus donnell-smithii Small Arbutus floribunda M.Martens & Galeotti Arbutus glandulosa M.Martens & Galeotti Arbutus laurifolia Lindl. Arbutus laurina M.Martens & Galeotti Arbutus macrophylla M.Martens & Galeotti Arbutus mollis Kunth Arbutus paniculata M.Martens & Galeotti Arbutus peninsularis Rose & Goldman Arbutus petiolaris Kunth Arbutus prunifolia Klotzsch Arbutus rubescens Bertol. Arbutus texana Buckley Arbutus varians Benth. Arbutus villosa Willd. ex Klotzsch Arbutus xalapensis var. pubescens Benth. Arbutus xalapensis var. texana A.Gray Arbutus xalapensis subsp. texana (Buckley) A.E.Murray Arctostaphylos rubescens (Bertol.) Hemsl. Comarostaphylis glauca Buckley Comarostaphylis rubescens (Bertol.) Klotzsch |
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The Texas madrone (scientific name: Arbutus xalapensis) is a beautiful tree. People also call it the naked Indian tree or Texas madroño. It is a type of flowering plant in the heather family.
This tree is native to several places. You can find it in Central America, the southwestern United States, and all over Mexico. In the US, it grows in western Texas and New Mexico.
Contents
Where the Texas Madrone Grows
The Texas madrone likes to grow in certain areas. It lives in canyons and mountains. You can also find it on rocky plains. It often grows in oak woodlands.
How high it grows depends on the location. In the southern parts of its range, it can be found up to 3,000 meters (about 10,000 feet) high. In the northern parts, it grows at lower elevations, down to 600 meters (about 1,800 feet).
What the Texas Madrone Looks Like
The Texas madrone can be a large shrub or a small to medium-sized evergreen tree. Evergreen means it keeps its leaves all year round. It can grow from 5 to 25 meters (about 17 to 84 feet) tall. Its trunk can be up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) wide.
Bark and Size
The tree has smooth, orange-brown bark. This bark often peels off in thin sheets, which is why some people call it the "naked Indian tree." The size of the tree changes depending on how much rain there is. In dry places like western Texas, it might be a small, bushy plant. In wetter parts of Mexico, it grows into a larger tree.
Some scientists think the trees in Texas, New Mexico, and northeast Mexico are a special type. They call it A. xalapensis var. texana, or even a separate species, A. texana. But other scientists believe they are all the same species.
Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit
The leaves of the Texas madrone are shaped like long ovals or spears. They are about 5 to 17 centimeters (2 to 6.8 inches) long. They are also about 1.5 to 5 centimeters (0.6 to 2 inches) wide. The edges of the leaves can be smooth or have small teeth.
The flowers are shaped like bells. They are white or light pink. Each flower is about 5 to 10 millimeters long. Many flowers grow together in loose bunches called panicles.
The fruit is a red berry with a rough surface. It is about 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) across. People say these berries are safe to eat. Each berry has many small seeds inside.
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The beautiful flowers of the Texas madrone.
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Red berries growing on a Texas madrone tree.
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The unique peeling bark of the Texas madrone.
See also
- In Spanish: Madroño de Texas para niños
