Arbutus Unedo, the scientific name of Strawberry tree where “ar” stands for sour and “butus” meaning bush. Often, the strawberry takes arboreous type also reaching 10 meters height.

The leaves they are persistent and tough, with the margin dentate, dark green and shiny on the top and pale green below The flowers are white and bell-shapedformed from a small cup, wide and 5-10 mm. The fruit is represented by a berry globular and pulpy and grainy, and color red.

 The Strawberry tree blooms in the autumn-winter (September-December), and fruits from August to November of the following year, you are then at the same time, the flowers and the fruits. In fact, the same tree houses at the same time flowers and ripe fruit, for the particular cycle of maturation, since the plant blooms in the ripening period of the fruit produced from the blossom of the previous year. The Strawberry-tree, using the leaves, the roots and the fruits. The branch severed from the unripe fruits is used for ornamental decorations while the wood is suitable for machining on the lathe.

 In Sardinia is particularly well known for the production of the typical bitter honey has antiseptic properties and for the treatment of bronchial ailments. In our country, the shrub is also known as the “plant Garibaldi” because of the colours that are reminiscent of the Italian flag: green leaves, white flowers and red fruits.

We wish you a good reading, a big hug from the Strawberry tree.

Author: Elisa Sassu and Ferrer Augus