Arbutus pavarii Pamp.
Eng.: Libyan strawberry tree. Spa.: Madroño libio. Fre.: Arbousier de Libye. Ara.: Shmeri.
Small tree or large shrub, evergreen, up to 6 m in height. Irregular in shape, with ± dense foliage. Bark reddish-brown, smooth, peeling off in small fringes. Branches extended-erect, greyish or reddish, younger branches hairy. Leaves alternate, coriaceous, ovate, obovate or oblanceolate, serrate or serrulate margin (rarely crenate or subentire), 1.5-4 × 4-11 cm, with acute apex, deep bright green on the upper side and slightly lighter and matt on the underside, glabrous; petiole 4-10 mm. Inflorescences in pendant, terminal panicles. Flowers with very small calyx. Corolla white, urceolate, with 5 revolute lobes. Fruits an irregular globular berry, 15-20 mm, wider than long, covered with irregular warts with a flattened outer surface; during fruiting they change from yellow-orange to crimson or scarlet red when ripe. Seeds numerous.
Flowering:
October to February.
Fruiting:
Approximately 8 months after flowering, July to November.
Habitat:
North facing slopes and ravines in low mountains close to the sea.
Distribution:
Endemic to the Akhdar Massif and nearby mountains (NE Libya), where it grows from 230-730 m in altitude. From dry to subhumid bioclimate, on thermomediterranean floor, with mild winters.
Observations:
Its flowers are a significant source of nectar and pollen for bees. The fruits are used for local human consumption. Leaves, fruit and bark are used for dyeing and as animal fodder, is also widely used as fuel; as a result of these practices, this species is currently very threatened.
A similar species growing in the Canary Islands, A. canariensis Duhamel, also presents bark that peels off in fringes, exposing the wood.
Conservation status:
Very rare and threatened species. In the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, it is listed as Vulnerable (VU) at global level (World Conservation Monitoring Center, 1998).