Buxus citrifolia

Buxus citrifolia
Conservation status
	; Near Threatened (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Buxales
Family:	Buxaceae
Genus:	Buxus
Species:	B. citrifolia
Binomial name
	Buxus citrifolia; (Willd.) Sprengel

Buxus citrifolia is a species of plant in the family Buxaceae. It is found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela.[1] This interesting shrub has not been known to occur in Central America, having only been collected and/or reported in Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Buxus citrifolia is nearly extinct and has been on the endangered list.

The hermaphrodite shrub, having both the male and female reproductive organs in the same individual, is 3–5 m tall with a 5 cm diameter at breast height. Twigs are free from hair and somewhat tetragonal, while the angle ridges are prominent. The leaves are elliptic to narrowly elliptic-ovate while being wedge-shaped or round at the base. The leaves are 5–12 cm long, 2–5 cm wide having the sub-3-veined from the base with the outer 2 nerves forming submarginal veins. The petiole margined and 2–5 mm long.

The complete flower head of a plant including stems, stalks, bracts, and flowers, inflorescence, is short only about 1–2 cm long axillary. Cymose, definite inflorescence, with a single terminal female flower and several lateral male flowers. The bract, modified leaf, is triangular and 1–2 mm long. Pedicels of male flowers 2–4 mm long, the female flowers sessile. Flowers are white and fragrant.[2]

Buxus citrifolia has been considered similar to another species in the family Buxaceae – Buxus laevigata. B. citrifolia differs in the fact that B. laevigata – native to Jamaica – has smaller fruits and flowers. When comparing them to B. citrifolia, the elliptic leaves are broader and has more pronounced secondary venation and more marginal lateral veins. The Martinique plant has also often been confused with B. citrifolia, however, the Martinique plant has been found to have long capsule horns and bigger flowers than B. citrifolia.[3]

References

Mitré, M. (1998). "Buxus citrifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T30579A9556255. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T30579A9556255.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
Missouri Botanical Garden.; Garden, Missouri Botanical; Botany, Henry Shaw School of (1978). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Vol. v.65 (1978). St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
Arnold Arboretum.; Arboretum, Arnold (1919). Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Vol. v.1-2 (1919-1922). Cambridge, Mass.: Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University [etc.]

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[iucn_status_17_November_2021-1] Mitré, M. (1998). "Buxus citrifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T30579A9556255. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T30579A9556255.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.

[2] Missouri Botanical Garden.; Garden, Missouri Botanical; Botany, Henry Shaw School of (1978). Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Vol. v.65 (1978). St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.

[3] Arnold Arboretum.; Arboretum, Arnold (1919). Journal of the Arnold Arboretum. Vol. v.1-2 (1919-1922). Cambridge, Mass.: Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University [etc.]