Arbutus Unedo The Strawberry Tree

Strawberry tree and some fun facts for anyone who has an arbutus tree near by!

Arbutus Unedo, the strawberry tree has a few uses in herbalism and after a little investigation i have found that... All parts of the plant contain ethyl gallate, a substance that possesses strong antibiotic activity against the Mycobacterium bacteria. The leaves, bark and root are astringent and diuretic. They are also a renal antiseptic and so are of use in the treatment of affections of the urinary system such as cystitis and urethritis. Their astringent action makes them of use in the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery and, like many other astringent plants, a gargle can be made for treating sore and irritated throats. The leaves are gathered in the summer and dried for later use. The flowers are weakly diaphoretic. The fruit is edible. Eaten raw or cooked. Sweet inside. Though the Latin name "unedo" means "I eat one (only)" and suggests that the fruit is not very palatable, though I think that the fruit is so delicious that a person only needs to eat one! It does have a somewhat gritty skin, but the fruit itself has the texture of a lush tropical fruit and has a delicate pleasant flavor. For those people with sensitive taste buds, this is a fruit that can be enjoyed when eaten in moderate quantities. The fruit contains about 20% sugars and can be used to make delicious and nourishing jams and preserves.