May 21, 2011
One of the most unique tree species found on the west coast of North America is the Pacific Madrone (Arbutus menziesii). Found from Vancouver Island down and into California, its species name was given to honor the Scots naturalist Archibald Menzies who noted the tree during George Vancouver's voyage of exploration. It is a common tree species within the mixed hardwood vegetation zones of UC-HREC. Being an evergreen the tree, it is never without leaves, but it does shed its annual crop of leaves in late summer blanketing the ground underneath with a golden carpet. This is one of the larger specimens found on the Center.
