The Strawberry Tree or Arbutus unedo, is a small tree with dark green, glossy, toothed leaves. It belongs to the heather family, as shown by its small, urn-shaped flowers. It is a common plant of evergreen scrub and rocky slopes in the less dry areas, occurring in most of the Mediterranean countries and extending to sheltered parts of western Ireland. The strawberry-coloured berries are 2cm across, ripening to deep crimson. They are edible but rather sour, and the name unedo implies ‘I eat only one’.

Other names: Corbezzolo (Italian).

Bibliography

Trees and shrubs of the Mediterranean by Helge Vedel, translated from the Danish by Aubrey Rush (Penguin Guides, 1978), p.49.