Commidendrum robustum

Commidendrum robustum, the Saint Helena gumwood, is a species of tree endemic to the island of Saint Helena in the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Though it is now comparatively rare, it was once one of the most abundant trees of mid-elevations of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. A small tree reaching a maximum of 8 metres (26 ft) in height, it was cut extensively for fuel in the early years of settlement of the island by the English East India Company. It is one of several species in the endemic genus Commidendrum. Commidendrum robustum is closely related to the Melanodendron integrifolium, Black cabbage tree, which also inhabits Saint Helena. The two species most likely evolved from a common ancestor. Today, the closest relatives are South African, in the small shrub genus Felicia Cass. and Amellus L....read more on Wikipedia.