Arbutus unedo
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID64400a092621e144148032 |
| Scientific name | Arbutus unedo |
| Authority | L. |
| First published in | Sp. Pl. : 395 (1753) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Among Mediterranean and Atlantic island communities, leaf infusions are the most consistently documented preparation of Arbutus unedo. In southern France and northeastern Spain, folk practitioners steep dried leaves for kidney ailments and urinary discomfort (Font Quer, 1962). Herbal writers of the late 20th century continued to record leaves as a diuretic and urinary demulcent tea in the same region, while also noting a decoction for mouth and throat inflammation (Valnet, 1985; Novaretti & Lemordant, 1990). Herbal teachers in Portugal have taught that a leaf “tisane” is traditionally taken for diarrhea and colic (Gonçalves, 1978), and in Ireland and the Atlantic islands, herbal lore has held the same leaf tea as useful for coughs and catarrh (Taylor, 1943). A separate tradition reports that the ripe fruits, used sparingly, have been made into a laxative syrup (Pieroni, 1999), suggesting that, although less common, fruit infusions have also featured as gentle aperients. These records together outline a tight use pattern centered on the leaves—used as mild teas or decoctions for urinary, respiratory, and gastrointestinal indications—and, occasionally, on the fruit as a gentle aperient syrup.
Practical tea method: Make a mild leaf infusion by measuring 1 to 2 grams of dried, crushed leaves per cup (about 250 ml) of near‑boiling water. Cover and steep 10 to 15 minutes, then strain. Dose is typically one cup taken two or three times daily for several days. Safety: this plant contains arbutin, a hydroquinone precursor, and plant tannins; it should not be used by those with kidney disease, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or in young children. Discontinue if nausea or dark urine occurs, and check with a clinician if taking diuretics or blood‑thinning medication.
Active constituents reported for this species plausibly support the traditional indications. The leaves contain arbutin and methylarbutin, arbutin’s main phenolic glycoside; flavonol glycosides such as quercetin derivatives; hydroquinone in small amounts; and hydrolysable tannins (gallic/ellagic derivatives), along with chlorogenic and caffeic acids (Novaretti & Lemordant, 1990). These compounds are astringent, mildly antimicrobial, and soothing to mucous membranes, consistent with uses in cough, gargling for sore throat, diarrhea, and urinary irritation.
Modern relevance: Today, Arbutus unedo appears in commercial herbal blends for urinary and respiratory comfort, and its leaf tea continues to be prepared in home and village pharmacies across the western Mediterranean.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products: Fruits are processed into jams, jellies, and syrups; they are also used in traditional alcoholic beverages such as medronho and related liqueurs. Wood is used as fuel and for charcoal.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal): The fruits are edible; they are commonly processed into jams, jellies, syrups, and preserves. In parts of the Mediterranean, the fruit is fermented or distilled into alcoholic beverages such as medronho or medronheira and used in liqueurs. No flavoring, medicinal, or efficacy claims are made.
Wood and fiber: The wood is dense and hard, historically used for fuel and charcoal; there is little evidence of large-scale industrial wood uses.
Colorants and tanning: Bark and leaves have been reported to contain tannins; historical sources note occasional use in tanning and as a brown dye for leather.
Sustainability and sourcing: Fruits are harvested from wild or semi-natural populations and cultivated trees; sustainable harvesting is practiced where populations are protected. Wood use typically involves local, low-volume collection rather than plantation forestry.
Standards and regulation: No specific standards or regulations are uniquely tied to this species; products follow applicable general laws for food, beverages, timber, or charcoal where relevant.
Properties relevant to use: The edible fruit is pulpy and sweet–astringent when fully mature, supporting jam/jelly production. Dense, hard wood with good calorific value supports fuel and charcoal applications. Bark and leaves contain tannins that historically enabled leather tanning.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Arbutus cassinifolia | Steud. | Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 1: 119 (1840) |
| Arbutus crispa | Hoffmanns. | Verz. Pfl.-Kult. , Nachtr. 1: 204 (1824) |
| Arbutus ferruginea | L.f. | Suppl. Pl. : 238 (1782) |
| Arbutus integrifolia | Sims | Bot. Mag. 49: t. 2319. 1822 |
| Arbutus intermedia | Heldr. ex Nyman | Consp. Fl. Eur. : 490 (1879) |
| Arbutus laurifolia | L.f. | Suppl. Pl. : 238 (1782) |
| Arbutus nothocomaros | Hedberg ex Nyman | Consp. Fl. Eur. , Suppl. 2(1): 214 (1889) |
| Arbutus pavarii | Pamp. | Arch. Bot. (Forlì) 12: 131 (1936) |
| Arbutus procumbens | Kluk ex Besser | Prim. Fl. Galiciae Austriac. 2: 355 (1809) |
| Arbutus salicifolia | Cels ex Hoffmanns. | Verz. Pfl.-Kult. , Nachtr. 1: 204 (1824) |
| Arbutus serratifolia | Salisb. | Prodr. Stirp. Chap. Allerton 288. 1796 [Nov-Dec 1796] |
| Arbutus turbinata | Pers. ex Rchb. | Fl. Germ. Excurs. : 416 (1831) |
| Arbutus unedo var. ellipsoidea | Aznov. | Magyar Bot. Lapok 3: 9 1904 |
| Arbutus vulgaris | Bubani | Fl. Pyren. 2: 7 (1899) |
| Arbutus unedo f. subcrenata | Maire | Bull. Soc. Hist. Nat. Afrique N. 32: 212 1941 |
| Arbutus unedo var. salicifolia | Regel | Index Seminum (LE) 1856: 31 1856 |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | strawberry tree |
| English | irish strawberry tree |
| English | mamkamla |
| Spanish | madroño |
| Spanish | alborecera |
| Spanish | albornio |
| Spanish | alborozas |
| Spanish | arbol del azucar |
| Spanish | Árbol del azucar |
| Spanish | Árbol del azúcar |
| Spanish | borrubiete |
| Spanish | borto |
| Spanish | madrono comun |
| Spanish | modrono |
| Spanish | arbutus cassinifolia |
| Spanish | arbutus intermedia |
| Spanish | arbutus nothocomaros |
| Spanish | arbutus laurifolia |
| Spanish | arbutus salicifolia |
| Spanish | arbutus unedo f. subcrenata |
| an | alborcera |
| an | alborzera |
| an | arbetón |
| an | modrollera |
| Arabic | قطلب أونيدو |
| Arabic | بج |
| Arabic | قطلب |
| Arabic | اللنج |
| Arabic | الجناء الأحمر |
| Arabic | قاتل أبيه |
| Arabic | جني |
| Arabic | مشمش بري |
| ary | باخنو |
| Azerbaijani | İrimeyvə çiyələk ağacı |
| Azerbaijani | İrimeyvə çiyələkağacı |
| azb | ایری مئیوه چیلک آغاجی |
| Bulgarian | кумарка |
| Catalan | arboç |
| Catalan | alberçoner |
| Catalan | albocer |
| Catalan | albocera |
| Catalan | alboix |
| Catalan | albrocer |
| Catalan | arbocera |
| Catalan | arbocó |
| Catalan | arborcer |
| Catalan | arbossera |
| Catalan | cirera d'arboç |
| Catalan | cirerer d'arboç |
| Catalan | cirerer de llop |
| Catalan | cirerer de pastor |
| Catalan | cireretes d'arboç |
| Catalan | arbocer |
| co | arbitru |
| co | albitru |
| Czech | planika velkoplodá |
| Czech | planika obecná |
| Welsh | mefusbren -nau |
| Welsh | mefusbren |
| Danish | jordbærtræ |
| Danish | almindelig jordbærtræ |
| German | arbousier |
| German | westlicher erdbeerbaum |
| Greek | αρχ. Κόμαρος. |
| Greek | kουμαριά |
| Esperanto | arbuto |
| Esperanto | fragarbo |
| Esperanto | okcidenta arbuto |
| Estonian | harilik maasikapuu |
| Basque | gurbitz |
| Persian | درخت قطاب |
| Finnish | mansikkapuu |
| Finnish | lännenmansikkapuu |
| French | arbouse |
| French | arbre à fraises |
| French | arbre aux fraises |
| French | arbousier |
| Galician | albedro |
| Galician | erbedo |
| Galician | Érbedo |
| grc | κόμαρος |
| Manx | billey kenney |
| Hebrew | קטלב משונן |
| Croatian | maginja |
| Hungarian | nyugati szamócafa |
| Armenian | Խոշորապտուղ մաթուզենի |
| io | arbutiero |
| Italian | corbezzolo |
| Italian | cerasa marina |
| Japanese | イチゴノキ |
| lij | arburussin |
| lij | arbusè |
| lij | armón |
| lij | murta |
| Macedonian | јагодник |
| nap | sovera pelosa |
| Norwegian Bokmål | jordbærtre |
| Dutch | aardbeiboom |
| Norwegian Nynorsk | jordbærtre |
| oc | arboç |
| Polish | chróścina jagodna |
| Polish | drzewo poziomkowe |
| Polish | drzewo truskawkowe |
| Polish | poziomkowiec |
| Polish | chruścina jagodna |
| Portuguese | medronheiro |
| Russian | Арбутус обыкновенный |
| Russian | Земляничник крупноплодный |
| Russian | Земляничник обыкновенный |
| Russian | Земляничное дерево |
| Russian | Земляничное дерево обыкновенное |
| Russian | Земляничное дерево крупноплодное |
| sc | olidone |
| sco | brawlins |
| Slovak | jahodovec obyčajný |
| Slovenian | navadna jagodičnica |
| Albanian | mareja |
| Swedish | smultronträd |
| Turkish | Çilek ağacı |
| Turkish | kocayemiş |
| Ukrainian | Суничник великоплідний |
| Walloon | arbôjhî |
| Chinese | 草莓树 |
| Chinese | 草莓樹 |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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Macaronesia
- Canary Islands
- Madeira
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Morocco
- Tunisia
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Macaronesia
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Western Asia
- Cyprus
- East Aegean Islands
- Lebanon-Syria
- Turkey
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Western Asia
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- Tasmania
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New Zealand
- New Zealand North
- New Zealand South
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Australia
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Europe click to expand
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Northern Europe
- Ireland
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Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Italy
- Kriti
- Sicilia
- Turkey-in-Europe
- Yugoslavia
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Southwestern Europe
- Baleares
- Corse
- France
- Portugal
- Spain
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Northern Europe
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000543204 |
| UNII | 0MHN1646KR |
| USDA Plants | ARUN4 |
| Tropicos | 12300004 |
| INPN | 83481 |
| Flora of Italy | 3730 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:326526-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-2646748 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 279932 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 100947 |
| Observations.org | 149120 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 84005 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000003899 |
| IUCN Red List | 202930 |
| IPNI | 326526-1 |
| iNaturalist | 82689 |
| GBIF | 2882803 |
| Freebase | /m/069273 |
| EPPO | ARDUN |
| EOL | 583608 |
| Elurikkus | 2869 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 9284 |
| US Library of Congress | sh98007224 |
| USDA GRIN | 3849 |
| Wikipedia | Arbutus_unedo |
| PFAF | Arbutus unedo |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCA_014822125.1 | UAlgCV_Aunedo_01 | Scaffold | University of Algarve | 2020-09-30 | 64 | 431.71 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
| Title | Authors | Publication | Released | IDs | ||||||
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| Commodity risk assessment of Tilia cordata and Tilia platyphyllos plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Vicent Civera A, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 03-May-2024 |
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| Unleashing the promise of emerging nanomaterials as a sustainable platform to mitigate antimicrobial resistance | Rahman S, Sadaf S, Hoque ME, Mishra A, Mubarak NM, Malafaia G, Singh J | RSC Adv | 01-May-2024 |
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| Unprecedented variation pattern of plastid genomes and the potential role in adaptive evolution in Poales | Wu H, Li DZ, Ma PF | BMC Biol | 29-Apr-2024 |
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| Exploring Gluten Assessment in Marketed Products through a Sandwich ELISA Methodology Based on Novel Recombinant Antibodies | Garcia-Calvo E, García-García A, Rodríguez S, Martín R, García T | Foods | 26-Apr-2024 |
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| Arbutus unedo L. Fractions Exhibit Chemotherapeutic Properties for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors | Di Vito A, Mandrone M, Chiocchio I, Gorini F, Ravegnini G, Coschina E, Benuzzi E, Trincia S, Nozella AH, Aasen T, Sanna C, Morroni F, Hrelia P, Poli F, Angelini S | Plants (Basel) | 25-Apr-2024 |
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| Insights into the molecular phylogeny and morphology of three novel Dothiora species, along with a worldwide checklist of Dothiora | Senwanna C, Hongsanan S, Khuna S, Kumla J, Yarasheva M, Gafforov Y, Abdurazakov A, Suwannarach N | Front Cell Infect Microbiol | 19-Apr-2024 |
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| Chemical Profile and Bioactivity of Rubus idaeus L. Fruits Grown in Conventional and Aeroponic Systems | La Torre C, Loizzo MR, Frattaruolo L, Plastina P, Grisolia A, Armentano B, Cappello MS, Cappello AR, Tundis R | Plants (Basel) | 16-Apr-2024 |
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| Impact of floral and geographical origins on honey quality parameters in Saudi Arabian regions | Alaerjani WM, Mohammed ME | Sci Rep | 15-Apr-2024 |
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| Wild Edible Plants Used in Dalmatian Zagora (Croatia) | Ninčević Runjić T, Jug-Dujaković M, Runjić M, Łuczaj Ł | Plants (Basel) | 11-Apr-2024 |
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| Melissopalynological Analysis of Honey from French Guiana | Jiang W, Battesti MJ, Yang Y, Jean-Marie É, Costa J, Béreau D, Paolini J, Robinson JC | Foods | 31-Mar-2024 |
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| Overview of Ethnobotanical–Pharmacological Studies Carried Out on Medicinal Plants from the Serra da Estrela Natural Park: Focus on Their Antidiabetic Potential | Lahlou RA, Carvalho F, Pereira MJ, Lopes J, Silva LR | Pharmaceutics | 25-Mar-2024 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Cornus alba and Cornus sanguinea plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Gonthier P, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Civera AV, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Manda RR, Schulz OM, Kariampa P, Akrivou A, Antonatos S, Beris D, Debode J, Kritikos C, Kormpi M, Manceau C, Papachristos D, Reppa C, Gardi C, Potting R | EFSA J | 12-Mar-2024 |
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| Saving the local tradition: ethnobotanical survey on the use of plants in Bologna district (Italy) | Chiocchio I, Marincich L, Mandrone M, Trincia S, Tarozzi C, Poli F | J Ethnobiol Ethnomed | 12-Mar-2024 |
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| Growth form, regeneration mode, and vegetation type explain leaf trait variability at the species and community levels in Mediterranean woody vegetation | Tüfekcioğlu İ, Tavşanoğlu Ç | Ecol Evol | 11-Mar-2024 |
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| Commodity risk assessment of Ligustrum ovalifolium and Ligustrum vulgare plants from the UK | Bragard C, Baptista P, Chatzivassiliou E, Di Serio F, Jaques Miret JA, Justesen AF, MacLeod A, Magnusson CS, Milonas P, Navas‐Cortes JA, Parnell S, Potting R, Reignault PL, Stefani E, Thulke H, Van der Werf W, Civera AV, Yuen J, Zappalà L, Battisti A, Mas H, Rigling D, Faccoli M, Mikulová A, Mosbach‐Schulz O, Stergulc F, Streissl F, Gonthier P | EFSA J | 07-Mar-2024 |
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |