Xylosma


Xylosma is a genus of flowering plants in the willow family, Salicaceae. It contains around 100 species of evergreen shrubs and trees commonly known as brushhollies, xylosmas, or, more ambiguously, "logwoods". The generic name is derived from the Greek words ξύλον, meaning "wood," and ὀσμή, meaning "smell," referring to the fragrant wood of some of the species. The Takhtajan system places it in the family Flacourtiaceae, which is considered defunct by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.

Description

The leaves are alternate, simple, entire or finely toothed, long. The flowers are small, yellowish, produced on racemes long, usually dioecious, and have a strong scent. The fruit is a small purple-black berry in diameter that contains 2 to 8 seeds.

Range

The genus is predominantly native to the tropics and subtropics, from the Caribbean, Central America, northern South America, the Pacific Islands, southern Asia and northern Australasia. Two species, X. congestum and X. japonicum, are found in warm-temperate eastern Asia. Molecular phylogenetic analysis suggest that the genus Lasiochlamys from New Caledonia may be nested in Xylosma.

Ecology

Xylosma foliage is used as food by the caterpillars of some lepidoptera, such as the rustic, which feeds on X. racemosa, and the common leopard, which feeds on X. longifolium and X. racemosa.

Uses

The main use for the genus is as hedge and topiary plants among gardeners in desert and chaparral climates. Xylosma congestum is the species usually seen in garden hedges and in road landscaping, despite the fact it bears thorns. Other species cultivated for these purposes include X. bahamensis, X. flexuosa, and X. heterophyllum. X. longifolium is sometimes grown in India for its edible fruits. In addition, a medicinal extract is made from its young leaves that acts as antispasmodic, narcotic, and sedative.

Selected species

Species include:

  • Xylosma bahamensis Standl. - Bahamas xylosma
  • Xylosma bolivianum Sleumer
  • Xylosma boulindae Sleumer
  • Xylosma buxifolia A.Gray - boxleaf xylosma
  • Xylosma capillipes Guillaumin
  • Xylosma ciliatifolia Eichler
  • Xylosma congestum Merrill - shiny xylosma
  • Xylosma crenatum H.St.John - sawtooth logwood
  • Xylosma fawcettii Urb.
  • Xylosma flexuosa Hemsl. - brushholly
  • Xylosma glaberrimum Sleumer
  • Xylosma grossecrenatum Lescot
  • Xylosma hawaiiense Seem. - Hawaiian brushholly, maua
  • Xylosma heterophyllum Gilg.
  • Xylosma inaequinervium Sleumer
  • Xylosma japonicum A.Gr.
  • Xylosma kaalense Sleumer
  • Xylosma latifolium J.Hk. & Thoms.
  • Xylosma longifolium Clos
  • Xylosma maidenii
  • Xylosma molestum Sleumer
  • Xylosma obovatum Triana & Planchon
  • Xylosma orbiculata G.Forst.
  • Xylosma ovatum
  • Xylosma pachyphyllum Urb. - spiny logwood
  • Xylosma palawanense Mend.
  • Xylosma panamensis Turcz.
  • Xylosma parvifolium Jessup
  • Xylosma peltatum Lescot
  • Xylosma pininsulare Guillaumin
  • Xylosma prockia Turcz.
  • Xylosma proctorii Sleumer
  • Xylosma pseudosalzmannii Sleumer
  • Xylosma racemosa Miq.
  • Xylosma ruizianum Sleumer
  • Xylosma salzmanni Eich.
  • Xylosma samoense Sleumer
  • Xylosma schaefferioides A.Gray - white logwood
  • Xylosma schwaneckeana Urb. - Schwaneck's logwood
  • Xylosma senticosa Hance
  • Xylosma serpentinum Sleumer
  • Xylosma serrata Urb.
  • Xylosma simulans A.C.Sm.
  • Xylosma spiculifera Triana & Planch.
  • Xylosma terrae-reginae C.T.White & Sleumer
  • Xylosma tuberculatum Sleumer
  • Xylosma tweedianum Eichler