Barbujana Apollonias

To this day, an endless number of genera and species of all kinds of plants are known. One of them is the Barbujana Apollonias, a large tree found in the Canary Islands and Madeira, for example.

Despite not being very famous, the wood from this tree is used for a specialization of carpentry. If you want to know more, just keep reading. We will talk about what is Barbujana Apollonias and what it is used for.

What is Apollonias barbujana?

Also known as barbuzano, black barbuzano or barbusano, the Barbujana Apollonias is a plant species belonging to the family Lauraceae, of which the laurel, linden and viñátigo are also members. This variety is endemic to Macaronesia. We can find this plant in the archipelagos of the Canary Islands and Madeira.

The name of the genus, "Apollonias", is inspired by one of the main gods of Greek mythology: Apollo. This deity corresponded among many other things to beauty and perfection, and her stories are full of loving and intimate relationships with muses and even men. They probably gave this name to the plant since its fruits are aphrodisiacs.

Description of the Apollonias barbujana

Physically, the Barbujana Apollonias it is a tree that can reach up to 25 meters in height. It has a robust and thick trunk with a reddish hue. In addition, its branching is very abundant, so it is not surprising that its crown is quite wide and rounded. At the base it is very common to find young trunks called suckers surrounding the main trunk.

Regarding the leaves of this tree, they have an oval shape and a bright dark green color. The edge of them is somewhat unruly and they do not have glands next to the main nerve, which is very well marked. It is also common for them to have gills or reddish bumps caused by the bite of a mite called Barbujana Eriophyes. Generally, the barbusan has an evergreen and abundant foliage. Each leaf is between six and ten centimeters long and is about three centimeters wide. When the leaves or shoots are new, they have a reddish color that is almost translucent.

As the Barbujana Apollonias It is hermaphrodite, it has small flowers that come together in clusters and whose tones range from white to yellow. Their fragrance is quite pleasant and they are arranged in small subterminal or axillary inflorescences. It should also be noted that they are usually composed of three flowers. They lengthen the common peduncle during the ripening phase, when they begin to form the fruits. In general, this tree blooms in late winter and spring.

We cannot forget about the fruits. These are fleshy berries very similar to olives. They are elongated and ovoid with a short dome. They usually measure between one and two centimeters and once they reach maturity, their green color turns blackish or a little purplish. At the base of the fruit they have a persistent calyx.

Distribution and habitat

La Barbujana Apollonias it is a plant species very common in laurel forests, where the environment is more thermophilic and dry. It is an endemic plant of the Macaronesian archipelagos, such as the islands of Porto Santo, Madeiras and the Canary Islands. In the latter we can find the barbusano in all except Lanzarote.

The laurel forest, also known as temperate forest, is especially characterized by the subtropical cloud environment. It is a high jungle with many hot, humid places and with few or even no frosts throughout the year. It has large trees with lianas and leaves similar to those of the laurel.

Uses of Apollonias barbujana

In a traditional way, the wood of the Barbujana Apollonias It has been widely used in cabinetmaking for its hardness, resistance and its dark tones that range from black to red. But what is cabinetmaking? As well, It is a carpentry specialization whose objective is the construction of furniture. The name comes from a specific type of wood called ebony, which has been considered one of the most precious since ancient times. It comes from a tree native to Africa called Diospyros ebenum. This has a heavy and hard wood with a black color in the center and white in the bark.

The main difference between carpentry and joinery is that the latter create much more elaborate furniture. It generates new techniques and complements them with others to create special pieces. These techniques include carving, inlay, turning, and marquetry. Despite not using any specific material, the cabinetmaker pursues the goal of producing furniture with better design and quality. Therefore, this trade is closely related to the process of designing domestic and commercial furniture.

Apart from being a beautiful tree in its natural environment, its wood is very beautiful in the furniture. Who knows, maybe you have some Apollonias barbujana furniture in your home.