Buxus natalensis
Buxus natalensis, commonly known as the Natal boxwood, is a resilient evergreen shrub native to Southern Africa. Renowned for its dense foliage and ornamental value, this medicinal plant is traditionally utilized in various cultures to treat ailments ranging from skin irritations to digestive issues, offering significant ethnobotanical importance.
- Scientific name: Buxus natalensis
- Family: Buxaceae
- Native range: Africa
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Buxales, specifically within the family Buxaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identification is completed under the 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, Buxus natalensis, is known by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In English, it is frequently referred to as the Natal boxwood, while in Afrikaans, it is called natalbokshout.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant is specifically located within the southern region of the African continent. Its documented geographical distribution is restricted to the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Within this specific area, it thrives in the unique environmental conditions provided by the local landscape. Because its range is so localized, it is considered a regional specialist of this South African territory. Consequently, the survival of the species is closely tied to the ecological stability of this particular province.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Africa | KwaZulu-Natal | WCVP |
Chemicals
Buxus natalensis has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 31-demethylbuxaminol A, buxafuranamide, buxalongifolamidine, buxamine A, buxaminol A.
- Total chemicals
- 10
- Scientific sources
- 10
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| 31-demethylbuxaminol A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| buxafuranamide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| buxalongifolamidine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| buxamine A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| buxaminol A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| buxaminol C | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cyclobuxophylline K | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cyclonataminol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| methyl syringate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| p-coumaroylputrescine | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |