Buxus
(from pyknos, dense; referring to the hardness of the wood). Box Tree. ORD. Euphorbiaceae. A genus of hardy evergreen shrubs or small trees. Flowers unisexual, monoecious; male flowers, calyx of four minute segments, stamens four, inserted under the rudiment of a pistil; female flowers singly, at the tips of groups of male ones. Fruit a regma, leathery, beaked with the styles. Leaves simple, opposite, exstipulate. These well-known plants thrive in any light, well-drained soil. Seeds should be sown in similar situations as soon as ripe. Cuttings, made of the young shoots, from 4in. to 6in. in length, inserted in a shady place, in August or September, root readily. Layers of either young or old wood, made in autumn or early spring, will make good plants. They can also be increased by suckers and division. B. balearica (Balearic).* l. yellowish-green, oblong-elliptical, emarginate, coriaceous, about 2in. long, with a cartilaginous margin. h. 15ft. to 20ft. South Europe, 1780. This is a handsome species. The cuttings will require a shelter in winter, and in exposed situations it will be better to afford the plants protection.
B. sempervirens (evergreen).* Common Box. l. oval-oblong, retuse, convex, coriaceous, shining; stalks slightly hairy. h. various England. There are numerous forms of this popular shrub: argentea, silver-variegated; aurea has its leaves variegated with a golden colour; marginata has leaves with a golden margin; myrtifolia has small, oblong, narrowish leaves; obcordata-variegata is a variegated variety, with obcordate leaves, from Japan; suffruticosa is the form usually cultivated for edgings, its leaves are small, obovate, this is readily increased by divisions, and requires to be planted firmly, in order to keep it dwarf.