''Arbutus'' × ''andrachnoides'', the hybrid strawberry-tree, is the result of a cross between ''

Arbutus andrachne ''Arbutus andrachne'', commonly called the Greek strawberry tree, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean region and the Middle East. The etymology of the species name corresponds to the Ancient ...

'' (eastern strawberry-tree) and ''

Arbutus unedo ''Arbutus unedo'', commonly known as strawberry tree, also called madrone, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae, native to the Mediterranean Basin and Western Europe. The tree is well known for its fruits, the arbutus berr ...

'' (Irish strawberry tree). It is a naturally occurring

hybrid Hybrid may refer to: Science * Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding ** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species ** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two diff ...

, but hybrid

cultivar A cultivar is a kind of Horticulture, cultivated plant that people have selected for desired phenotypic trait, traits and which retains those traits when Plant propagation, propagated. Methods used to propagate cultivars include division, root a ...

s have also been created. It has gained the RHS's

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...

. Young specimens of ''A.'' × ''andrachnoides'' possess the dark bark of ''A. unedo'', but older trees have exfoliations revealing an orangish bark. The first parental species, ''A. andrachne'', also hybridized with '' A. canariensis'' to yield another hybrid, ''Arbutus'' × ''thuretiana'' Demoly, nothosp. nov..

Description

It is impossible to distinguish ''Arbutus'' × ''andrachnoides'' individuals from the parent species using traditional botanical methods since they display a complete spectrum of parental traits.

DNA testing Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...

and statistical methods centered on characterizing the intermediacy of the individual must be used instead.

Gallery

File:Arbutus × andrachnoides in Hackfalls Arboretum (2).jpg, Leaves File:Arbutus × andrachnoides in Hackfalls Arboretum (1).jpg, Bark

References

andrachnoides Interspecific plant hybrids Ornamental plant cultivars Ornamental trees Plants described in 1821 {{DEFAULTSORT:Arbutus x andrachnoides