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Wildlife, Animals, and Plants
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Introductory
SPECIES: Arbutus arizonica | Arizona Madrone
ABBREVIATION :
ARBARI
SYNONYMS :
Arbutus xalapensis var. arizonica Gray
SCS PLANT CODE :
ARAR2
COMMON NAMES :
Arizona madrone
Arizona madrono
TAXONOMY :
The currently accepted scientific name of Arizona madrone is Arbutus
arizonica (Gray) Sarg. [11,25]. It is a member of the heather family
(Ericaceae). There are no recognized subspecies, varieties, or forms.
LIFE FORM :
Tree, Shrub
FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS :
No special status
OTHER STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
COMPILED BY AND DATE :
Diane S. Pavek, April 1993
LAST REVISED BY AND DATE :
NO-ENTRY
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION :
Pavek, Diane S. 1993. Arbutus arizonica. In: Remainder of Citation
DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Arbutus arizonica | Arizona Madrone
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION :
Arizona madrone has a limited distribution. It is found in the
foothills and lower mountains of southern Arizona and New Mexico, and
northern Mexico [11,22,25].
ECOSYSTEMS :
FRES21 Ponderosa pine
FRES34 Chaparral - mountain shrub
FRES35 Pinyon - juniper
STATES :
AZ NM MEXICO
ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS :
CHIR CORO SAGU
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS :
7 Lower Basin and Range
12 Colorado Plateau
13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont
KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS :
K018 Pine - Douglas-fir forest
K019 Arizona pine forest
K023 Juniper - pinyon woodland
K031 Oak - juniper woodlands
SAF COVER TYPES :
237 Interior ponderosa pine
239 Pinyon - juniper
240 Arizona cypress
241 Western live oak
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES :
NO-ENTRY
HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES :
Arizona madrone is widespread in mesic areas of the Madrean (i.e.,
Sierra Madre) evergreen woodlands, extending up into the mixed
coniferous forest [1,4,13]. Additionally, it is a minor component of
two riparian community types: (1) Arizona sycamore/American ash
(Platanus wrightii/Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and (2) Arizona sycamore
[24]. Arizona madrone is an important species within the oak-pine
woodland, especially the pygmy conifer-oak scrub (Pinus
cembroides-Juniperus deppeana-Quercus arizonica, Q. emoryi) [5,17,30].
It is also found in drier adjacent communities with buckbrush (Ceanothus
huichugore) [4,18]. It is listed as a minor seral species in the
following classification:
Forest and woodland habitat types (plant associations) of Arizona south
of the Mogollon Rim and southwestern New Mexico [33].
VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Arbutus arizonica | Arizona Madrone
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE :
Arizona madrone has light-colored sapwood that is close grained, heavy,
soft, and brittle. The wood has a specific gravity of approximately
0.71. Arizona madrone has been used to manufacture charcoal and
gunpowder [22,28].
IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
Arizona madrone is rarely browsed except by goats [22]. Its fruits are
eaten by mammals and birds and may be an important food source for some
species, such as the elegant trogan [32]. Arizona madrone may provide
nest sites for cavity-nesting or other birds.
PALATABILITY :
NO-ENTRY
NUTRITIONAL VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
COVER VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES :
NO-ENTRY
OTHER USES AND VALUES :
The fruit of Arizona madrone has narcotic properties, and the bark is
used as an astringent [21].
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
NO-ENTRY
BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Arbutus arizonica | Arizona Madrone
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS :
Arizona madrone is a native, broadleaf, evergreen tree or shrub [11].
Stout, spreading branches form a compact, round-topped crown [21]. It
grows 19 to 50 feet (6-15 m) tall with a diameter of 18 to 24 inches
(46-61 cm) [11,21,22,28]. The bark is smooth, thin, and peels off in
sheets [7,11,21]. Thick, oblong leaves are leathery, and 2 to 3 inches
(5-7.2 cm) long. The fruit is a mealy, sweet berry. The berry contains
many seeds [25,27,28].
RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM :
Phanerophyte
REGENERATION PROCESSES :
Arizona madrone reproduces sexually by seed. Fleshy, bright-colored
fruits may be animal disseminated as are the fruits of another madrone
species (Arbutus unedo) [10,16]. There was no indication of vegetative
reproduction by Arizona madrone found in the literature. Other species
of this same genus sprout from the root crown after cutting or burning.
Arbutus unedo sprouts from a large lignotuber and grows relatively
rapidly; Pacific madrone responds similarly [10,14,15]. Arizona madrone
grows slowly [27].
SITE CHARACTERISTICS :
Arizona madrone is found in mesic canyons, on lower slopes, and mountain
sides [1]. It occurs on well-drained, gravelly, and sunny sites [7,28].
Arizona madrone is confined to moist riparian areas at low elevations
(1,600 to 2,200 feet [487-671 m]) but occurs more commonly at elevations
from 4,000 to 8,000 feet (1,219-2,438 m) [6,11,28,30]. It occurs on a
variety of soils formed from resideual or colluvial parent materials
[33]. Arizona madrone is often on open, north-facing or intermediate
east- and west-facing slopes. In the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona,
its highest frequency (23 percent) was on north-facing slopes [30].
The climate is semiarid to arid with bimodal rainy seasons (July to
September and December to March) [1,5,30]. Rainfall is variable with
mean annual precipitation from 11 to 20 inches (280-500 mm).
Common associated species are New Mexico locust (Robina neomexicana),
silverleaf oak (Quercus hypoleucoides), netleaf oak (Q. rugosa), Apache
pine (Pinus engelmannii), and Chihuahua pine (Pinus leiophylla var.
chihuahuana) [5,6,24,29,32]. Other associated species are longtongue
muhly (Muhlenbergia longiligula) and New Mexico groundsel(Senecio
neomexicanus) [33].
SUCCESSIONAL STATUS :
Little information was found in the literature about the successional
status of Arizona madrone. It reportedly occurs as a mid- to late seral
species [32]. Based upon the performance of other members of this
genus, Arizona madrone is most likely a facultative seral species.
Another madrone species (Arbutus unedo) that holds a similar ecological
role in Corsican woodlands is a mid-successional species [16].
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT :
New leaves of Arizona madrone are put out in May and again after the
summer rains; these leaves persist about 1 year [21]. Arizona madrone
flowers from April to May or June [3,11,28]. Fruits ripen October
through November [21,28].
FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Arbutus arizonica | Arizona Madrone
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS :
No information was found in the literature on the fire ecology of
Arizona madrone, as others have also indicated [1]. It has thin bark
which makes it susceptible to fire damage.
Fire is infrequent and has a minor role in the riparian communities in
which Arizona madrone is a component; however, fire occurs frequently in
the pine-oak woodland types in which it also occurs [17].
Arizona madrone in the Chiricahua and Santa Catalina Mountains of
Arizona has survived fire. In a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)/oak
community, an Arizona madrone had eight fire scars, indicating frequent
fires [31].
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY :
Secondary colonizer - off-site seed
FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Arbutus arizonica | Arizona Madrone
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT :
No information was found in the literature on the effects of fire on
Arizona madrone. With its thin bark, it may be easily top-killed by
fire. Other madrones are top-killed by fire and sprout from surviving
stumps [10].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT :
NO-ENTRY
PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE :
No literature was found on the response of Arizona madrone to fire. It
is probable that Arizona madrone responds to fire as other madrone
species do. Surviving Pacific madrone and Arbutus unedo sprout
vigorously within the first year after fire [10,14,15].
Madrean evergreen woodlands in Arizona were prescribed burned in 1983.
In 1989 and 1990, no sprouting or germination of Arizona madrone was
found. The small, slow-moving fires may have caused root damage to
Arizona madrone, which suppressed sprouting or killed the plants [32].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE :
NO-ENTRY
FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
Arizona madrone occurs in canyons that are often involved in prescribed
fire programs within the Madrean evergreen woodlands [1].
REFERENCES
SPECIES: Arbutus arizonica | Arizona Madrone
REFERENCES :
1. Bennett, Peter S.; Kunzmann, Michael R. 1992. The applicability of
generalized fire prescriptions to burning of Madrean evergreen forest
and woodland. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science. 24-25:
79-84. [18324]
2. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals,
reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's
associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p.
[434]
3. Britton, N. L.; Shafer, J. A. 1908. North American trees. New York:
Henry Holt and Company. 894 p. [20918]
4. Brown, David E., ed. 1982. Biotic communities of the American
Southwest--United States and Mexico. Desert Plants. 4(1-4): 342 p.
Special Issue. [534]
5. Brown, David E. 1982. Madrean evergreen woodland. In: Brown, David E.,
ed. Biotic communities of the American Southwest--United States and
Mexico. Desert Plants. 4(1-4): 59-65. [8886]
6. Diem, Kenneth L.; Zeveloff, Samuel I. 1980. Ponderosa pine bird
communities. In: DeGraaf, Richard M., technical coordinator. Management
of western forests and grasslands for nongame birds: Workshop
proceedings; 1980 February 11-14; Salt Lake City, UT. Gen. Tech. Rep.
INT-86. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
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10. Gratani, L.; Amadori, M. 1991. Post-fire resprouting of shrubby species
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11. Kearney, Thomas H.; Peebles, Robert H.; Howell, John Thomas; McClintock,
Elizabeth. 1960. Arizona flora. 2d ed. Berkeley, CA: University of
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of the conterminous United States. Special Publication No. 36. New York:
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14. McDonald, Philip M. 1981. Adapatations of woody shrubs. In: Hobbs, S.
D.; Helgerson, O. T., eds. Reforestation of skeletal soils: Proceedings
of a workshop; 1981 November 17-19; Medford, OR. Corvallis, OR: Oregon
State University, Forest Research Laboratory: 21-29. [4979]
15. Mesleard, Francois; Lepart, Jacques. 1989. Continuous basal sprouting
from a lignotuber: Arbutus unedo L. and Erica arborea L., as woody
Mediterranean examples. Oecologia. 80: 127-131. [20921]
16. Mesleard, F.; Lepart, J. 1991. Germination and seedling dynamics of
Arbutus unedo and Erica arborea on Corsica. Journal of Vegetation
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17. Niering, William A.; Lowe, Charles H. 1984. Vegetation of the Santa
Catalina Mountains: community types and dynamics. Vegetatio. 58: 3-28.
[12037]
18. Pase, Charles P.; Brown, David E. 1982. Rocky Mountain (Petran) and
Madrean montane conifer forests. In: Brown, David E., ed. Biotic
communities of the American Southwest--United States and Mexico. Desert
Plants. 4(1-4): 43-48. [8885]
19. Raphael, Martin G. 1987. Use of Pacific madrone by cavity-nesting birds.
In: Plumb, Timothy R.; Pillsbury, Norman H., technical coordinators.
Proceedings of the symposium on multiple-use management of California's
hardwood resources; 1986 November 12-14; San Luis Obispo, CA. Gen. Tech.
Rep. PSW-100. Berkeley, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
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[5375]
20. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant
geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]
21. Sargent, C. S. 1965. Manual of the trees of North America. New York:
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22. Standley, P. C. 1924. Trees and shrubs of Mexico. Contrib. U.S. Nat.
Herb. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Press; 23: 849-1312. [20916]
23. Stickney, Peter F. 1989. Seral origin of species originating in northern
Rocky Mountain forests. Unpublished draft on file at: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire
Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT; RWU 4403 files. 7 p. [20090]
24. Szaro, Robert C.; King, Rudy M. 1990. Sampling intensity and species
richness: effects on delineating Southwestern riparian plant
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Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press. 897 p.
[18145]
26. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1982.
National list of scientific plant names. Vol. 1. List of plant names.
SCS-TP-159. Washington, DC. 416 p. [11573]
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Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. 194 p. [20919]
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Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. 1104 p. [7707]
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the Southwest. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona. 82 p. [4031]
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Mountains, Arizona: a gradient analysis of the south slope. Ecology. 46:
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31. Mutch, L. (pers. comm. 1993)
32. Bennett, P. (pers. comm. 1993)
33. Twisselmann, E. C. 1967. A flora of Kern County, California. Wasmann
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Index
Related categories for Species: Arbutus arizonica
| Arizona Madrone
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