ARBUTUS (from arboise, Celtic for austere bush; in allusion to the austere quality of the fruit). Strawberry-tree. SYN. Unedo. ORD. Ericaceae. A genus of very ornamental, evergreen trees and shrubs. Corolla globose or ovately campanulate; petals five, reflexed. Leaves alternate, Laurellike. The species thrive in a light sandy or peaty soil. They may be propagated by seeds, which should be sown in sand during March; by budding, and by inarching; the first mentioned method is the one most generally employed, with good results. The various sorts may be grafted, budded, or inarched upon ARBUTUS Unedo. The greenhouse species are rare in cultivation, but their management does not materially differ from other plants requiring a similar temperature. ARBUTUS Andrachne (Andrachne).* fl. greenish-white; panicles terminal, erect, clothed with viscid down. March and April. l. oblong, bluntish, entire in some, a little serrated in others, glabrous. h. 10ft. to 14ft. Greece, 1724. A fine ornamental tree. ARBUTUS A. serratifolia (saw-edge-leaved). fl. yellowish, disposed in rather large terminal clusters. l. serrated, and narrower than those of the species. SYN. ARBUTUS serratifolia. ARBUTUS andrachnoides (Andrachne-like). A synonym of ARBUTUS hybrida. ARBUTUS canariensis (Canary). fl. greenish-white; panicles erect, hispid May. l. oblong-lanceolate, serrated, glaucous beneath. h. 8ft. to 10ft. Canary Islands, 1796. Greenhouse. ARBUTUS densiflora (thickly-flowered).* fl. white; corolla oval; pedicels furnished with three bracteas at the base; panicle terminal, composed of closely packed racemes. l. 4in. to 5in. long, on long petioles, oblong, acute, sharply toothed, coriaceous, glabrous above and shining, but downy beneath, the middle nerve with rusty villi; branches angular, hairy. h. 20ft. Mexico, 1826. Greenhouse. ARBUTUS hybrida (hybrid).* fl. white; panicle terminal, pendulous, downy. September to December. l. oblong, acute, serrated, glabrous; branches pilose. h. 10ft. to 0ft. A half-hardy garden hybrid; it originated about 1800. SYN. ARBUTUS andrachnoides. ARBUTUS Menziesi (Menzies').* fl. white; racemes axillary and terminal, panicled, dense-flowered. September. l. broad-oval, quite entire, glabrous, on long petioles. h. 6ft. to 10ft. Northwest America, 1827. A noble hardy tree. ARBUTUS laurifolia comes close to this species. SYN. ARBUTUS procera. ARBUTUS mollis (soft). fl. rosy, drooping; panicle terminal, crowded, racemose. June. l. oblong-acute, sharply toothed, coriaceous, clothed with soft pubescence above, and white tomentum beneath. h. 6ft. Mexico. Greenhouse shrub. ARBUTUS mucronata (mucronate). A synonym of Pernettya mucronata. ARBUTUS pilosa (pilose). A synonym of Pernettya pilosa. ARBUTUS procera (tall).* A synonym of ARBUTUS Menziesi. ARBUTUS serratifolia (saw-edge-leaved). A synonym of ARBUTUS Andrachne serratifolia. ARBUTUS Unedo (Unedo).* The Strawberry Tree. fl. white, deep red in some of the varieties, nodding, in terminal racemose, bracteate panicles. September. fr. large, scarlet, nearly globose, granular, edible. l. oblong-lanceolate, glabrous, serrulated; branchlets clothed with glandular hairs. h. 8ft. to 10ft. West of Ireland, and South Europe. There are several varieties of this plant in cultivation. It is one of the greatest ornaments in the months of October and November--the season when it is in flower, and when, also, the fruit of the former year is ripe. ARBUTUS Xalapensis (Xalapan). fl. reddish white; corolla ovate; panicle terminal, composed of many racemes. April. l. petiolate, oblong, acute, quite entire, about 2in. long, glabrous above, but clothed with brownish tomentum beneath; epidermis separating, brownish purple. Young branches glabrous, but beset with ramentae. h. 6ft. to 9ft. Mexico. Greenhouse species.