Arbutus, or madrone, or madrona, is a small tree or shrub which grows in western Europe, the Canary Islands, and North America. The fruit is edible but has little flavor; the fruit is sometimes distilled into brandy, which is called medronho in Portugal and madroño in Madrid.
Name origins
Arbutus, from Latin, arbutus, origin unknown. Madrone from Mexican Spanish madroño, of uncertain origin, possible Basque mart-, "blackberry", "bramble".