Buxus balearica Lam

Spice Fruit detail Fruit In the field

Family: BUXACEAE

Genus: Buxus

Catalan common name: Boix.

Spanish common name: Boj.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): West Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Furniture, construction and tools. Medicinal.

Plants protected by law: Balearic Catalogue.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Macrophanerophyte.

Habitats: Xero-acanthic shrubs of the mountanous regions, and steppe-grasslands of Ampelodesmos mauritanica. Rocky coastlines. Mountain plant. Stony soils.

Characteristics: A bush which can grow into an authentic tree. It has shiny, ovate leaves that are at times yellowish or reddish. The tip of the leaves can be notched, a feature which easily identifies this plant (it is not generalised). Balearic box appears in the mountains of Serra de Tramuntana (northern mountain range) and also in Cabrera. Palynological studies have shown that this plant was much more widespread in the past, and was also found in Menorca (nowadays it is absent). It seems to be a species in recession which really suffered from the action of coal makers.