Home > Herbs > Buxus Balearica

Buxus balearica

Buxus balearicica, commonly known as the Balearic boxwood, is a resilient evergreen shrub endemic to the Mediterranean. Valued for its dense, slow-growing wood, this plant holds significance in traditional herbalism. Its unique botanical properties make it a subject of interest for studying natural compounds within specialized medicinal ecosystems.

  • Scientific name: Buxus balearica
  • Family: Buxaceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Buxales, it is classified under the family Buxaceae. It is further identified by its genus, Buxus.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Buxales WCVP
Family Buxaceae WCVP
Genus Buxus WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Buxus balearica, is referred to by several different common names depending on the language. In German, it is called the Balearen-Buchsbaum, while in French, it is known as the Buis des Baléares. The Catalan name for this species is boix baleàric, and in Lower Sorbian, it is called the Balearski buksowc. Additionally, in Norwegian Bokmål, the plant is commonly known as the Balearbuksbom.
Language Common Name Source
de Balearen-Buchsbaum Wikidata
fr Buis des Baléares Wikidata
ca boix baleàric Wikidata
hsb Balearski buksowc Wikidata
nb Balearbuksbom Wikidata
ar شمشاد بلياري Wikidata
arz شمشاد بليارى Wikidata
fr Buis des Baleares Wikidata
zh 西班牙黄杨 Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a distinct geographical distribution concentrated around the Mediterranean basin. Within Southwestern Europe, it can be found in the Balearic Islands, Sardinia, and mainland Spain. Its range also extends significantly into Northern Africa. Specifically, the species inhabits parts of Algeria and Morocco. Consequently, its habitat is characterized by these specific coastal and Mediterranean regions.

Region Area Source
Southwestern Europe Baleares WCVP
Southwestern Europe Sardegna WCVP
Southwestern Europe Spain WCVP
Northern Africa Algeria WCVP
Northern Africa Morocco WCVP
Western Asia Lebanon-Syria WCVP
Western Asia Türkiye WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, Buxus balearica, is a species where the leaves serve as a primary characteristic feature. These leaves are typically small, evergreen, and leathery in texture, providing a dense, lush appearance to the shrub. In various medicinal and botanical contexts, the structure and chemical composition of the leaves are of particular interest for study.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
leaves 1 ★☆☆☆☆