Texas Madrone

arbutus xalapensis

The Texas Madrone (Arbutus xalapensis) is an enchanting evergreen tree native to the rocky, limestone-rich soils of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Renowned for its striking, multi-colored peeling bark, this tree exposes smooth, polished trunk surfaces underneath that range from cream to deep hues of coral and red—earning it the colloquial nickname "naked wood." In the spring, the tree bursts with clusters of fragrant, urn-shaped white-to-pink flowers that attract a multitude of pollinators. These blooms give way to vibrant orange and red berries in the fall, which serve as a critical food source for local wildlife. Despite its rugged beauty, the Texas Madrone is notoriously difficult to propagate and transplant, making mature wild specimens highly prized treasures for hikers and naturalists exploring Chihuahuan Desert canyons and Edwards Plateau woodlands.

生息地: Found in rocky limestone canyons, mountainous slopes, and oak-juniper woodlands at elevations between 3,000 and 8,000 feet.

外見

The Texas Madrone typically grows as a small to medium-sized tree or large shrub, reaching heights of 4 to 12 meters. Its most defining characteristic is the smooth, cold-to-the-touch bark that peels away in papery layers to reveal a spectrum of inner bark colors, including peach, apricot, and deep reddish-brown. It features thick, leathery, dark-green oval leaves with smooth or slightly serrated margins. In early spring, it produces terminal panicles of small, creamy-white, lantern-like flowers, which are followed in autumn by clusters of bumpy, spherical, bright red-to-orange berries measuring about 8 to 12 millimeters in diameter.

界Plantae門Tracheophyta綱Magnoliopsida目Ericales科Ericaceae属Arbutus

Texas Madrone

カテゴリ

植物

レア度

Common

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

スナップ

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おもしろい事実

Its wood is incredibly dense, heavy, and hard, making it historically sought after for tool handles and charcoal, though cutting it is discouraged due to its rarity in the US.

Locals often refer to the Texas Madrone as 'lady's leg' or 'naked wood' because the peeling bark reveals a remarkably smooth, pinkish trunk underneath.

Unlike most evergreen trees, the Texas Madrone can photosynthesize through its bark when its leaves are stressed or shedding, thanks to chlorophyll present in the smooth reddish-orange trunk layers.

特殊能力

Regularly sheds its outer bark, which helps prevent epiphytic plants and mosses from growing on it, while also allowing some photosynthesis to occur directly through its smooth under-bark.

Possesses thick, leathery leaves with a waxy cuticle that minimizes water loss, allowing the tree to thrive in arid limestone environments.

Relies on specialized underground fungal networks to absorb scarce nutrients and moisture from rocky, poor soils where its roots struggle to establish alone.

サイズと詳細

長さ: 400-1200 cm
寿命: 50-150 年

食性と食事

As a photoautotrophic plant, the Texas Madrone produces its own energy via photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water while absorbing essential soil nutrients.

主な食物

Sunlight
Carbon dioxide
Water
Soil minerals

生態系とのつながり

eaten by

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

Feeds heavily on the ripe red berries of the Texas Madrone during its autumn and winter migrations, assisting in seed dispersal.

mutualism

Western Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Visits the fragrant urn-shaped flowers in early spring to collect nectar, acting as a primary pollinator.

mutualism

Arbutoid Mycorrhizal Fungi

Arbutaceae mycorrhizae

Forms obligate mycorrhizal associations with specialized soil fungi to secure minerals and water in limestone soils.

特徴

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別名

まだ別名はありません。

コレクション

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安全性

危険度

1/5 · 非常に低い

まだ特別な安全上の注意はありません。

よくある質問

Texas Madroneを見分けるには？

Texas Madroneを識別する最も簡単な方法は、Snappit自然識別アプリを使用することです。

Texas Madroneの長さは何ですか？

400-1200 cm

Texas Madroneの寿命は何ですか？

50-150 年

Texas Madroneは何を食べますか？

As a photoautotrophic plant, the Texas Madrone produces its own energy via photosynthesis, utilizing sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water while absorbing essential soil nutrients.

Texas Madroneは通常どこに生息していますか？

Found in rocky limestone canyons, mountainous slopes, and oak-juniper woodlands at elevations between 3,000 and 8,000 feet.