About Sideroxylon mirmulans Buch
Sideroxylon mirmulans Buch is an evergreen tree that grows 3 to 5 meters (9.8 to 16.4 feet) tall. It has leathery, elliptic leaves that measure 5 to 12 centimeters (2.0 to 4.7 inches) long and 3 to 6 centimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) wide. Its flowers range in color from whitish rose to purple, and have 5 petals that reach up to 7 millimeters (0.28 inches) in length. The fruit it produces is a drupe, 1 to 1.5 centimeters (0.39 to 0.59 inches) long. This species occurs on Madeira Island, Porto Santo Island, and the Desertas Islands. It is the dominant species in low coastal forests along the northern shore of Madeira, at elevations between 0 and 80 meters (0 to 262 feet). It also grows in small pockets on the southern side of Madeira, at elevations between 200 and 300 meters. It is commonly found growing alongside the shrubs Maytenus umbellata and Globularia salicina.
