THE STRAWBERRY TREE
In local dialect “Cerescia marina”
Arbutus unedo L.
Ericaceae
🍒 THE STRAWBERRY TREE: BOTANIC, STORY AND INTERESTING FACTS
The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) is an enchanting mediterranean tree. It is known for its colorful fruits and symbolic value in Italian culture.
🌿 BOTANICAL FEATURES
🔹Family: Ericaceae
🔹 Origin: Mediterranean area and West-European, Atlantic coast.
🔹 Appearance: it is an evergreen shrub or a small tree, up to 10 meters
🔹Leaves: shiny, lance-shaped, dark green
🔹 Blossom: it is bell-shaped, white or pinkish, gathered in drooping bunches, and they usually bloom in autumn.
🔹 Fruits: its fruits are round-shaped, wrinkled berries that become red when ripe. They are also edible and rich in vitamin C
These fruits take a year to ripen, which is why on the same plant there is simultaneously blossom and fruits
The strawberry tree is not only an excellent evergreen ornamental bush, but also a very efficient plant for environmental purposes. It adapts perfectly to dry soils while protecting them from erosion, and it resists the excesses of heat resulting from fires perfectly.
📜STORY AND SYMBOLS
🏛️Italian Symbol
The strawberry tree was associated with Italian patriotism during the Risorgimento (the period that led to the unification of Italy) because of its natural tricolour flag: green leaves, white flowers and red fruits.
📖 Literature and Mythology
🔹 The Latin poet Virgil mentions it in his Georgics by defining it as a useful plant to both men and animals.
“Nec non et iuncis plena est, tum gramine campi, Arbutoque satis.”
🔹 In Greek mythology, the strawberry tree was sacred to Dionysus and therefore associated with Dionysian rites.
🍷 INTERESTING FACTS AND TRADITIONAL USES
✔️ Strawberry-tree honey: it is rare and refined, with a bitter, strong taste
✔️Liqueurs and jams: its fruits are used to produce sweet, fragrant preserves
✔️ Refined wood: its wood is used to produce tools and musical instruments
✔️Pliny the Elder gave it its scientific name, Arbutus unedo. It comes from Latin, and the epithet “unedo” means “I only eat one of them” (from Latin unum edo). This probably refers to the fact that, although the fruit is edible, it has a peculiar taste and a chalky texture that does not entice eating many of them.
🌱 BACK TO THE PRESENT
💚 It is a hardy plant, suitable for the Mediterranean scrub and drought-resistant.
🐝 It is a source of nectar for bees and is crucial for biodiversity.
🌳 It is cultivated for ornamental and forestry purposes.
Its fruits are rich in:
✔Vitamin C, with antioxidant and immunostimulant properties.
✔ Tannins, which provide a slight astringent effect.
✔ Polyphenols, which are beneficial for blood pressure and offer protection against free radicals.
✔ Natural sugars, which make them suitable for the preparation of jams and liqueurs..
|
This is an ancient fruit to rediscover and a symbol of Mediterranean beauty.! 🌿🍒 |
These contents were written and researched by the owners of the SiGi Agricultural Company in collaboration with the students of the Agricultural Technical Institute of Macerata.
If you would like to contribute to expanding the descriptions of these varieties, you can send an e-mail to info@agricolasigi.it
We launched the e-museum of ancient fruits thanks to a social farming project of the Marche region. The translation is by komalingua
This project enabled five young people with cognitive impairments, aged 20 to 25, to work on the farm. They were selected by psychologists and Anffas social workers, supported by the professional educator Il Faro and supervised by UniMc researchers. Coldiretti Marche handled communication and distribution.
This unique and challenging project led to the creation of both a physical and virtual museum of ancient fruits in SiGi’s garden. This is not only a great honor but also a significant commitment that we are willing to continue with everyone’s support. You can contribute to our projects by choosing our products, or you can do so directly here: