toyon

Heteromeles arbutifolia

Member of rose family (family Rosaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
other colors in flowering plants

There are no other wild species of this genus in California.

Hosts toyon gall thrips (Liothrips ilex).

Edibility: The berries have a pungent and bitter taste when raw; they taste better after being cooked [source].

Toxicity:
leaves of christmas berry, photinia arbutifolia, toyon (Photinia arbutifolia):

4 – Ingestion of these plants, especially in large amounts, is expected to cause serious effects to the heart, liver, kidneys or brain. If ingested in any amount, call the poison center immediately.

Chris’s observations: 133 (128 are research grade)

Locations:

Edgewood Park & Natural Preserve: 16
Almaden Quicksilver CP: 15
Sierra Azul; OSP: 8
Castle Rock SP: 6
Henry Coe SP: 6
Skyline Ridge OSP: 5
El Sereno OSP: 3
Foothills Nature Preserve, Palo Alto: 3
Rancho Cañada del Oro OSP: 3
San Pedro Valley CP: 3
Stevens Creek CP: 3
Ulistac Natural Area, Santa Clara: 3
Waterdog Lake & Open Space: 3
Alum Rock Park, San Jose: 2
Bear Creek Redwoods OSP: 2
Calero CP: 2
Coal Creek OSP: 2
Coyote Hills RP: 2
Coyote Lake / Harvey Bear Ranch CP: 2
Dimond Canyon Trail, Oakland: 2
Fremont Older OSP: 2
Huckleberry Botanic RP: 2
Lake Chabot RP: 2
Monte Bello OSP: 2
Mt. Madonna SP: 2
Picchetti Ranch OSP: 2
Pinnacles NP: 2
San Bruno Mountain State & County Park: 2
Santa Teresa CP: 2
Sierra Vista OSP: 2
Windy Hill OSP: 2
Andrew Molera SP
Butano SP
Coal Mine Ridge Nature Preserve
Cupertino, CA
Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge
Ed R. Levin CP
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP
Jacks Peak CP
Mt. Diablo SP
Point Lobos SP
Portola Redwoods SP
Pulgas Ridge OSP
Rancho San Antonio OSP
Russian Ridge OSP
Sam McDonald CP
Sanborn CP
Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area
Thornewood OSP
Wunderlich CP

Months:

Jan.: 15
Feb.: 10
Mar.: 12
Apr.: 8
May: 5
Jun.: 9
Jul.: 14
Aug.: 8
Sep.: 10
Oct.: 8
Nov.: 17
Dec.: 17

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – CalPhotos – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora