Xylosma

Xylosma Template:IPAc-en<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> is a genus of flowering plants in the family Salicaceae.<ref name="GRIN"/> It contains around 100 species of evergreen shrubs and trees<ref name="Everett">Template:Cite book</ref> 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",<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> referring to the fragrant wood of some of the species.<ref name="Everett"/> The Takhtajan system places it in the family Flacourtiaceae,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> which is considered defunct by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.<ref name="GRIN"/>

DescriptionEdit

The leaves are alternate, simple, entire or finely toothed, Template:Convert long. The flowers are small, yellowish, produced on racemes Template:Convert long, usually dioecious,<ref name="eFloras">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and have a strong scent. The fruit is a small purple-black berry Template:Convert in diameter that contains 2 to 8 seeds.<ref name="Everett"/>

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The genus is predominantly native to the tropics and subtropics,<ref name="Everett"/> 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.<ref>Alford, M.A (2005). Systematics Studies in Flacourtiaceae. PhD Thesis, Cornell University, 2005.</ref>

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.

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).<ref name="Everett"/> X. longifolia is sometimes grown in India for its edible fruits.<ref name="Mansfeld">Template:Cite book</ref> In addition, a medicinal extract is made from its young leaves that acts as antispasmodic, narcotic, and sedative.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 15 species of the genus have reported medicinal or veterinary use.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>