Barbusano (Apollonias barbujana)

Evergreen tree, up to 25 m tall, with a rough bark. Leaves are ovate-lanceolate, glossy, dark green, rather tough and up to 9 cm long; they often present unevenly distributed hooks, apparently caused by insects. Flowers are terminal, small, whitish-yellow and aromatic. Fruits are fleshy berries, ovoid (up to 1.5 cm) and blackish-brown when ripe. Native to Macaronesia (Madeira and the Canaries) and part of laurisilva laurel forests, growing between 300-1,200 m, but particularly around 800-900 m. Distribution encompasses all the islands of Madeira and the Canaries, with the exception of Lanzarote. Locally abundant in Madeira and the central and western Canary Islands. The subspecies A. ceballosi, with broadly ovate leaves, is present in La Gomera. The wood of this tree is very dark and is known as the ‘ebony of the Canaries’. Traditionally, it was used in woodwork and joinery, particularly for doors, shutters, and guttering, as it does not rot when in contact with water.