unedo – combination of Latin words unum meaning one and edo meaning eat, resulting in “I eat one” in reference to the edible (but unpalatable) fruit

Native range: S.E. Europe, Turkey, Lebanon, N. Africa

Leaves:

• alternate
• simple
• serrate
• elliptic to oblong
• above – lustrous dark green

Flowers:

• small inflorescence
• florescence w/ corolla, urn-shaped, white
• radial
• perfect
• superior ovary
• flowers in fall

Fruit:

• berry (strawberry-like)
• ~1” across
• produced at the end of one growing season ripen (& redden) the following year

Other characteristics:

• tree to 30 ft
• evergreen
• many stems
• red stems
• pubescent young branches
• in mature trees, grayish-brown bark peels and flakes to reveal reddish-brown inner bark

Ecology & Adaptations:

• grows in rocky places in the Mediterranean region, such as immature oak woods and developing woodland
• adapted to hot, sunny climate:
  • in low humidity conditions, stomata close to prevent water loss and photosynthesis rates drop at mid-day, when temperatures are highest and light is most intense
  • leaves shift to an inclined (more vertical than horizontal) position to decrease direct exposure to intense light at mid-day
• drought tolerant:
  • metabolic responses to drought (e.g., increase of concentration of certain compounds such as anthocyanin pigments) may also help the species prevent tissue damage during high-light and high-temperature conditions
  • accumulations of proline help osmoregulation by reducing cellular water potential so that water flows into rather than out of the plant
• fire-adapted – re-sprouts from stumps following fire
• shade tolerant – shade leaves on lower branches of tree or shrub are larger in area, to maximize capture of light, and contain higher concentrations of chlorophyll, to maximize photosynthesis