Parque Nacional Garajonay

Canarian ebony (Apollonias barbujana)

An endemic species of Macaronesia which grows to a height of 20 metres. It prefers the drier more thermophile atmosphere of the laurisilva. Its leaves show numerous galls caused by arthropods which make them unmistakeable, as well as the foliar shoots of reddish colour. It was one of the most fastidious of the trees of the monteverde due to its excellent wood which led it to be considered the "ebony of the Canary Islands". One subspecies has been cited known as the endemic white barbusano of La Gomera, although its taxonomic status is not clear.