Aratiles or Manzanitas is a fast growing tree, 5 to 10
meters high, with spreading branches. Leaves are hairy, sticky, alternate,
distichous, oblong-ovate to broadly oblong-lanceolate, 8 to 13 centimeters
long, with toothed margins, pointed apex and inequilateral base, one side
rounded and the other acute. Flowers are about 2 centimeters in diameter,
white, extra-axillary, solitary or in pairs. Sepals are 5, green, reflexed,
lanceolate, about 1 centimeter long. Petals are white, obovate, 1 centimeter
long, deciduous and spreading. Fruit is a berry, rounded, about 1.5 centimeter
in diameter, red on ripening, smooth, fleshy, sweet and many seeded. It is a tree that thrives in poor soil, able to tolerate acidic and alkaline
conditions and drought. Its seeds are dispersed by birds and fruit bats.
http://www.stuartxchange.com/Aratiles.html
The
Aratiles Tree was the subject of my second postcard to my niece, N.
