Psiloxylon
Genus of flowering plants
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Psiloxylon mauritianum (known locally as "bois bigaignon") is a species of flowering plant, the sole species of the genus Psiloxylon. It is endemic to the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius and Réunion) in the Indian Ocean.[1]
| Psiloxylon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Psiloxylon mauritianum tree growing in Vallée de Ferney reserve, Mauritius. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Subfamily: | Psiloxyloideae |
| Tribe: | Psiloxyleae A.J.Scott |
| Genus: | Psiloxylon Thouars ex Tul. |
| Species: | P. mauritianum |
| Binomial name | |
| Psiloxylon mauritianum | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Fropiera mauritiana Bouton ex Hook. f. | |
It is a white-barked evergreen tree, bearing essential oils. It is dioecious,[1] with male and female flowers on separate individuals. It is traditionally used as a medicinal plant, and appears contain compounds that inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus.[1]
It was formerly placed alone in family Psiloxylaceae, but is now considered a basal member of the family Myrtaceae.[2]
