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Join the Arbutus ARME!
This semi-regular e-newsletter celebrates all-things Pacific madrone, highlighting our conservation and restoration efforts while connecting tree researchers and enthusiasts along the way.
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Big news! The Arbutus ARME website is now live.
Bookmark https://www.arbutusarme.org to learn more about the collective, madrone basics, mapping efforts, resources about pathogens and practices, where to buy, and news and events. We will continue to send updates about website development through the newsletter and social media. Please let us know if you have information to contribute, especially photos, research, projects, etc.
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Hot (pun intended) Topic: Madrone Response After Fire
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Until the early 20th century, fire was frequent in the western US, set purposefully by Native Americans to encourage the growth of favored plants, clear areas for hunting, reduce fuel buildup and more. Post European settlement, the beginning of fire suppression in the early 20th century resulted in fewer low intensity fires. Due to this fire suppression and the effects of climate change, catastrophic fires have become more common. For example, the fires on the west coast are setting records for acreage burnt.
Read more about the role of indigenous peoples in shaping the historical fire regime here or click here to read more about the effects of fire suppression and the climate crisis.
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Above images contributed by Debbie Ickes, California. Thank you Debbie!
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Madrone is a fire adapted species. It resprouts from the root burl or lignotuber after the aboveground stem and branches are burned in a fire. In areas with fire suppression, diseases such as canker and branch dieback slowly destroy the canopy of the tree. Disease behaves in the same way as fire by destroying the aboveground parts of the tree, only more slowly by starving the tree to death. It is not practical to have prescribed burns in urban areas, so possibly more of these disease issues occur on urban madrones vs ones in forested areas that experience periodic fire.
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ARME ALERT: Almost Berry Collection Time!
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Anyone seeing berries out there? The season should be GOOD. Berries are probably not ripe and red at this moment, but one can probably see ripening berries in October. They may persist long into the winter until they drop to the ground or are eaten by birds. If you are after the seeds, know they are encased in the 'nutlet' shell beneath the fleshy outer layer of the berry. Red berries will have the most viable seeds. Shriveled brown/black berries may be compromised by pathogens such as Neofusicoccum.
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Observations as of September 10, 2020!
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368 observations have been shared by 58 users! More are added almost daily. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. Visit our website to learn more about using the TreeSnap Application to share your observations!
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This update includes a few observations on the Washington Peninsula. Note that most of our observations are close to Seattle. Lets work together to fill in the gaps!
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Submitted from Olalla, Washington. Note the crown dieback at the top, which could be attributed to factors that reduce water availability (e.g. drought, compaction, pavement, etc.) or uptake capacity, such as root disease.
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The health of Pacific madrone trees submitted in TreeSnap have been highly variable. This variation is interesting, but more observations are needed to see if any patterns emerge. We are also looking at the health of the trees in relation to the symptoms that are reported, so stay tuned for more information in our next newsletter!
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Quest for the Highest Madrone in Washington!
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Only one observation has been submitted from above 1500ft in Washington! There have been a few observations from higher elevations in California and Oregon though. Is this the highest elevation it can survive in the Puget Sound region? Join us in a quest to find the upper limits!
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Salish Sea Magazine
Gerald Young's essay and photos in the Summer 2020 Salish Sea Magazine titled "The Pacific Madrone in the Salish Sea Ecosystem" was published recently. The essay takes us to some of the sacred madrone sites around the Salish Sea and discusses the complex ecology and adaptability of madrone ecosystems. They even give Arbutus ARME a shoutout! Read the Young's article here and John Williams' article on "Arbutus flowers" here.
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Save the Date for Member Meeting in November
Join us for a virtual event to hear about the latest news and research while connecting with other Arbutus ARME "members" and madrone lovers.
Free Virtual ARME Event!
November 10, 2020 @ 10:00 Pacific Time
Program
- What does the TreeSnap data tell us?
- Research Update
- Arbutus ARME 2021 "Workplan"
- Madrone Mingle & Trivia
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Looking for back issues of this newsletter? Follow this link: https://ppo.puyallup.wsu.edu/pmr/arbutus-arme/
Send your ideas, projects, announcements, or other madrone-related items for the newsletter to arbutusarme@gmail.com
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This project is supported by USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection Evaluation Monitoring Project #18-CA-11062765-726
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