Arbutus unedo
Arbutus unedo L.
Ericaceae – Heather family
Conservation status. Critically Endangered [CR C2a(i); D]. BDA.
Morphology and biology. Evergreen tree up to 9 m high. Bark brown, fissured, falling off in large irregular peels. Twigs mostly glandular-hairy. Leaves broadly lanceolate, 4–10 cm, serrate. Inflorescences drooping clusters of white campanulate flowers, honey-scented. Fruits globular red berry, 15–20 mm in diameter, covered with conical papillae. Fruit edible, but with a specific taste, used for jams. Fl. X–III, fr. X–XII. Insect pollination. Reproduction by seeds.
Habitats and populations. Grows in dry Mediterranean low-growing evergreen or deciduous wood and scrub, on stony limestone or sandy slopes. Three single trees have been recorded till now in Bulgaria.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Rhodopi Mts (eastern – Suh Bunar locality near Mandritsa village) and Strandzha Mts (south of Kosti village and near Slivarovo village, Muchievo locality); up to 300 m alt.
General distribution. Mediterranean area.
Threats. In Bulgaria the species occurs at the northern climatic limit of its distribution area and therefore is represented by a few individuals. This makes the taxon critically endangered in the country. Potential negative factors are forest fires and extremely low temperatures.
Conservation measures taken. Protected species by the national Biodiversity Act. The known localities are in sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Search for new individuals; monitoring and marking with a sign of protection of the known trees; raising awareness of the local people and foresters about the conservation value of the species.
References. Velchev et al. 1989; Radkov 2003.
Author: Antoaneta Petrova
