Arbutus occidentalis

The plant is found in montane Mexico from Chihuahua to Oaxaca.^[1][2][3] It is found in pine forests, spreading on cliff summits and steep rocky slopes.^[4]

Arbutus occidentalis is a low growing shrub, growing 0.25–1 metre (0.82–3.28 ft) in height.^[4][1] In places it forms colonies more than 6 feet (1.8 m) ) wide.^[4]

The branches are covered with thin red bark.^[4] Leaves are 3–6 centimetres (1.2–2.4 in) long, by 1–2 centimetres (0.39–0.79 in) wide. They have teeth along the edges.^[1]

The red fruits are about 0.5 inches (13 mm) across and fleshy.^[4][1]

Two regional variations of Arbutus occidentalis were formerly distinguished as varieties:

• Arbutus occidentalis var. occidentalis —almost smooth leaved, located in Central Mexico from Durango to Jalisco in the Sierra Madre Occidental.
• Arbutus occidentalis var. villosa — leaves copiously covered beneath with wooly, villous hairs, located further south from Michoacan to Oaxaca in the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains.