Alyxia buxifolia

Alyxia buxifolia
Alyxia buxifolia at Loch Ard Gorge, Victoria, Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Alyxia
Species:
A. buxifolia
Binomial name
Alyxia buxifolia

Alyxia buxifolia, otherwise known as the sea box or dysentery bush, is a species of evergreen shrub in the family Apocynaceae.[1]

Alyxia buxifolia has medium to dark green foliage consisting of small, fleshy leaves.[2][3] The flowers are small and twisted anticlockwise in a star shape.[1] They are orange at the base of the petal and are a white-cream colour at the tip of the petal.[4][5] It flowers in spring through to autumn.[4][6] Alyxia buxifolia produces small fruits that are red to orange in colour when ripe.[4][5]

Alyxia buxifolia has several synonyms though the current accepted name is Alyxia buxifolia R. Br.[7][8]

It is found naturally occurring throughout southern Australia and can be found in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales.[4][6] Alyxia buxifolia occurs in coastal regions, often being found in scrub and heathland ecosystems.[5] It can grow in many types of soils and is considered a hardy plant due to being tolerant of wind, salt, and some frost conditions.[1][3][9] Alyxia buxifolia also creates habitat for small animals and provides food for birds and invertebrates.[1][10]

The shrub also contains several compounds of interest which include oleanolic acids, ursolic acids, and betulinic acid.[11]

It is used in many horticultural and landscape settings.[3] It was also used by First Nations people of Australia to treat dysentery.[12]

Alyxia buxifolia is currently considered not to be under threat.[13][14]

  1. ^ a b c d "Alyxia buxifolia". Plant Selector. Botanic Gardens of South Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Sea Box". Victorian Resources Online. Agriculture Victoria. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Mason, John (2007). Growing Australian Natives (2nd ed.). Australia: Simon and Schuster. p. 110. ISBN 9780731813100.
  4. ^ a b c d Ohlsen, Daniel (29 June 2017). "Alyxia buxifolia R.Br. Sea Box". Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Forster, Paul (19 October 1992). "A taxonomic revision of Alyxia (Apocynaceae) in Australia". Australian Systematic Botany. 5 (5): 547. doi:10.1071/SB9920547 – via CSIRO Publishing Journals.
  6. ^ a b Harden, G.J.; Williams, J.B. "Alyxia buxifolia". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  7. ^ "Alyxia buxifolia R.Br". Atlas of Living Australia. 25 May 2022.
  8. ^ Hassler, Michael (7 March 2022). "Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora". World Plants. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :11 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Anstee, J.R.; Arthur, H.R.; Beckwith, A.L.; Dougall, D.K.; Jefferies, P.R.; Michael, M.; Watkins, J.C.; White, D.E. (1952). "The Chemistry of Western Australian Plants. Part VI. The Occurrence of Betulic, Oleanolic, and Ursolic Acids". Journal of the Chemical Society. doi:10.1039/JR9520004065 – via Royal Society of Chemistry.
  12. ^ Cock, Ian (1 January 2011). Medicinal and Aromatic Plants-Australia. Encyclopaedia of Life Support Systems Publishers. p. 33.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ "Alyxia buxifolia R. Br". Florabase- The Western Australia Flora. Western Australian Herbarium. Retrieved 27 May 2022.