About Arbutus andrachne L.
Arbutus andrachne L. can grow to a height of about 12 metres (39 ft). It has smooth bark that exfoliates during summer, leaving a pistachio green layer that gradually changes to orange brown. Its flowers bloom in spring, and are white or yellowish green. Fruits ripen in autumn, measure 1 to 1.2 cm across, and are edible. They have a somewhat sweet and astringent taste, and are rich in vitamin C, polyphenols, and natural sugars, containing 16 grams of natural sugars per 100 grams of fruit. Astringency is more pronounced when the fruit is not fully ripe. The fruits are used to make jams and liqueurs, and when dried in a cool place, they are eaten as sweet, chewy candy. According to a 2017 published research study, antioxidants in the fruit include a variety of chemicals that provide a defensive effect against memory impairment; these antioxidants normalize long- and short-term memory impairment caused by sleep deprivation.
