Arbutus is a genus of trees in the family Ericaceae. North American members of the genus are called Madrones. The European species are called Strawberry Trees; the better known of these, the Strawberry TreeArbutus unedo, is sometimes referred to simply as the "Arbutus".
Species currently classified in Arbutus:
Greek Strawberry Tree, Arbutus andachne, found in south-eastern Europe and western Asia; sometimes called the "manzanita".
Strawberry Tree, Arbutus unedo, found in southern Europe and south-west Ireland; widely cultivated outside its natural range.
Texas Madrone, Arbutus xalapensis, found in Texas, Arizona and northeastern Mexico.
The Strawberry Tree and Greek Strawberry Tree hybridise naturally to produce a hybrid form that is classified as Arbutus x andrachnoides.
The mayflower Epigaea repens has the common name Trailing Arbutus; although it is in the same family, it is not classified in genus Arbutus. Some of the Manzanitas, genus Arctostaphylos, and some of the Salals, genus Gaultheria, were formerly classified in Arbutus.
This, of course is not the original church of Madron.
It was only with the development of Penzance in the first half of the 19th century that new churches were built to accommodate the increase in population and became detached from the Parish of Madron.
Madron parish church is normally open to visitors at 10.00am.
Madron is a time of balance when both day and night are equal; from now the days start getting shorter, the nights getting longer and the weather starts getting colder.
Madron is the first day of autumn and harvest, both in the agricultural sequence and personally.
At the Madron celebration, decorate the alter and cast the circle, ask the elements of air (east), fire (south), water (west) and earth (north) to join you and protect you in your rite.