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Glite Dictionary
Arbutus menziesii

Arbutus menziesii

9.9
A large evergreen tree with smooth red bark, glossy leaves, orange edible berries, and wood used for furniture
  • noun
  • /ɑrˈbjuːtəs ˈmɛnziˌziːaɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : madroño
  • The Arbutus menziesii stood tall along the coastal trail, its smooth red bark gleaming in the sunlight.

Examples

  • Locals collect the berries of Arbutus menziesii to make jams and preserves.

  • Furniture makers prize the wood of Arbutus menziesii for its strength and attractive grain.

  • The Arbutus menziesii grows beautifully along the Pacific coastline.

  • Have you ever tasted the berries from an Arbutus menziesii?

  • Furniture makers prize the wood of Arbutus menziesii for its strength and attractive grain.

  • Locals collect the berries of Arbutus menziesii to make jams and preserves.

  • The Arbutus menziesii stood tall along the coastal trail, its smooth red bark gleaming in the sunlight.

Synonyms

madrona
vsArbutus menziesii
  • US
1 9.9

An evergreen tree with smooth red bark and orange berries

is the same name but appears as a different common variant
madrone
vsArbutus menziesii
  • US
1 9.2

A tree with smooth red bark, shiny leaves, and white flowers

highlights orange edible berries rather than white flowers
madrono
vsArbutus menziesii
  • US
9.9

An evergreen tree with smooth red bark, shiny thick leaves, and orange-red berries

is the same name but uses a different spelling form

Surface Forms

Arbutus menziesii singular
Arbutus menziesiis plural

Morphology

arbutus + menziesii

The first element 'arbutus' clearly names an evergreen plant, so a learner can infer the phrase refers to that kind of plant; however 'menziesii' is a Latinized species epithet (a proper name derived from the surname Menzies) that does not carry descriptive meaning on its own. Because the combination yields a specific taxonomic label (a particular species of arbutus) that is partly predictable from the constituents but requires knowledge of naming conventions to recover the full sense, it is best judged semi-transparent.

Etymology

Arbutus menziesii: The scientific name mixes the group name Arbutus, a type of tree with smooth red bark and orange berries, and the species name menziesii, which 'honors' the Scottish naturalist Archibald Menzies who first found and wrote about the tree, so the name simply tells us this is the Arbutus that Menzies discovered.