Xylosma Explained

Xylosma [1] is a genus of flowering plants in the family Salicaceae. It contains around 100 species of evergreen shrubs and trees[2] commonly known as brushhollies, xylosmas, or, more ambiguously, "logwoods". The generic name is derived from the Greek words ξύλον (xylon), meaning "wood, tree", and ὀσμή (osmé), meaning "smell",[3] referring to the fragrant wood of some of the species.[2] The Takhtajan system places it in the family Flacourtiaceae,[4] which is considered defunct by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.

Description

The leaves are alternate, simple, entire or finely toothed, 2- long. The flowers are small, yellowish, produced on racemes 1- long, usually dioecious,[5] and have a strong scent. The fruit is a small purple-black berry 5- in diameter that contains 2 to 8 seeds.[2]

Species

, Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[6]

Distribution

The genus is predominantly native to the tropics and subtropics,[2] from the Caribbean, Central America, northern South America, the Pacific Islands, southern Asia and northern Australasia. One species, X. congesta, is found in warm-temperate eastern Asia (China, Korea and Japan). Molecular phylogenetic analysis suggest that the genus Lasiochlamys from New Caledonia may be nested in Xylosma.[7]

Ecology

Xylosma foliage is used as food by the caterpillars of some lepidoptera, such as the rustic (Cupha erymanthis), which feeds on X. congesta (syn. X. racemosa), and the common leopard (Phalanta phalantha), which feeds on X. longifolia and X. congesta.

Uses

The main use for the genus is as hedge and topiary plants among gardeners in desert and chaparral climates. Xylosma congesta 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. spiculifera (syn. X. heterophylla).[2] X. longifolia is sometimes grown in India for its edible fruits.[8] In addition, a medicinal extract is made from its young leaves that acts as antispasmodic, narcotic, and sedative.[9] 15 species of the genus have reported medicinal or veterinary use.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Brenzel, K. N. . Sunset Western Garden Book . 1995 . Sunset Publishing Corporation . 6 . 978-0-376-03851-7 . 606–07.
  2. Book: Everett, T. H. . The New York Botanical Garden Illustrated Encyclopedia of Horticulture . 10 . Taylor & Francis . 1982 . 978-0-8240-7240-7 . 3572.
  3. Book: Quattrocchi, U. . CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology . IV R-Z . 2000 . Taylor & Francis US . 978-0-8493-2678-3 . 2857.
  4. Book: Takhtajan, A. . Flowering Plants . 2 . 2009 . Springer . 978-1-4020-9608-2 . 226.
  5. Web site: Xylosma G. Forster, Fl. Ins. Austr. 72. 1786. . Flora of China . eFloras.org . 2010-02-03.
  6. Web site: Xylosma G.Forst. . . 2023-02-16 .
  7. Alford, M.A (2005). Systematics Studies in Flacourtiaceae. PhD Thesis, Cornell University, 2005.
  8. Book: Mansfeld's Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops (Except Ornamentals) . P. Hanelt . 3 . 2001 . Springer . 978-3-540-41017-1 . 1374.
  9. Book: Khare, C. P. . Indian Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated Dictionary . Springer . 2007 . 978-0-387-70637-5 . 725.
  10. Duarte-Casar . Rodrigo . Romero-Benavides . Juan Carlos . Xylosma G. Forst. Genus: Medicinal and Veterinary Use, Phytochemical Composition, and Biological Activity . Plants . January 2022 . 11 . 9 . 1252 . 10.3390/plants11091252 . 35567253 . 9103172 . en . 2223-7747. free .

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