Picconia excelsa

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Picconia excelsa, commonly known as palo blanco, pau blanco, or branqueiro, is a small evergreen tree in the olive family. It is native to Macaronesia and is found only on Madeira and the Canary Islands (Madeira; El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma, and Tenerife).

Habitat and description
- It grows mainly in laurel forests at 200–1,200 meters above sea level, but can also be found in pine forests and heathlands.
- It reaches about 10–15 meters tall with an open crown.
- Bark is white to grey. Leaves are opposite, leathery, elliptic to obovate, 6–8 cm long, dark green on top and paler underneath.
- Flowers are white, four-petaled, and hermaphroditic. The fruit is a fleshy drupe about 2 cm long, green at first and turning purplish black when ripe, with a single seed.

Ecology and conservation
- Picconia excelsa is an important part of the laurel forests of Madeira and the Canary Islands. It can host the liverwort Frullania polysticta, a species adapted to laurel forest habitats.
- It was previously listed as vulnerable, but the IUCN classified it as Least Concern in 2017 due to its wide range and apparently stable population. Threats include invasive species and forest exploitation.
- The species occurs in protected areas such as Garajonay National Park and Madeira Natural Park and is conserved in at least 25 ex situ collections, including seed banks.

Uses and other notes
- The wood is used locally for carpentry and construction. The tree is also planted for reforestation and as an ornamental plant.
- It was introduced to the United Kingdom as an ornamental plant in 1784.