“When eaten in quantities this fruit is said to be narcotic, and the wine made from it in Spain as the same property. The tree is common in the Mediterranean region, and the fruit was known to the ancients, but according to Pliny (who gave the tree the name of Arbutus) was not held in much esteem, as the name implies (un ede = one), the fruits being considered so unpalatable that no one tasting them for the first time would be tempted to repeat the experiment.”
M. Grieve, A Modern Herbal, 1931
The Strawberry Tree or Arbutus unedo is also called cain, cane apple, arbutus, arbute or the ‘Irish or Killarney Strawberry Tree’. It’s called caithne in both Gaeilge and Scots Gaelic. The Latin name unedo means ‘one time shrub’ possibly lending to the idea that you tried the fruit once and never again due to its pungently sweet taste. The common name Strawberry tree is due to the shape and size of the fruit being similar to strawberries. The berries are well loved by local wildlife, particularly birds and come into ripeness during the timely autumn season when food sources are becoming more scarce. The tree also tends to do well in otherwise inhospitable areas and finds a perfect home amongst barren rocky crevices. The small tree with its bright green and red colors, strike beautifully against the brown, yellow or otherwise muted backdrop of neighboring foliage during the autumn and winter seasons.
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