Buxus sempervirens

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Buxus sempervirens

Mature specimen

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Buxales
Family:	Buxaceae
Genus:	Buxus
Species:	B. sempervirens

Binomial name

Buxus sempervirens
L.

Buxus sempervirens (Common Box or European Box; also as Boxwood) is a flowering plant in the genus Buxus, native to western and southern Europe, northwest Africa, and southwest Asia, from southern England south to northern Morocco, and east through the northern Mediterranean region to Turkey.

It is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 1-9 m tall, with a trunk up to 20 cm diameter, exceptionally to 10 m tall and 45 cm diameter (Tree Register of the British Isles). The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, green to yellow-green, oval, 15-30 mm long and 5-13 mm broad. The flowers are inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, with no petals; the fruit is a three-lobed capsule containing 3-6 seeds.

The species typically grows on soils derived from chalk, limestone, usually as an understorey in forests of larger trees, most commonly associated with Fagus sylvatica forests, but also sometimes in open dry montane scrub, particularly in the Mediterranean region. Box Hill, Surrey is named after its notable box population, which comprises the largest area of native box woodland in England.

[edit] Cultivation and uses

Garden path lined with boxwoods at Gunston Hall^[1]

It is a very popular ornamental plant in gardens, being particularly valued for topiary and hedges because of its tolerance of close shearing, small leaves, and scented foliage. Several cultivars have been selected, including some with variegated foliage.

The wood ("boxwood") is very hard and heavy, used for engraving, marquetry, woodturning, and mallet heads. The noted English engraver Thomas Bewick pioneered the use of boxwood blocks for engraving.

The species is locally naturalised in parts of North America.^[2]

[edit] References

^ Plan of Garden and Grounds near Gunston Hall. Gunston Hall Drawings. Historic American Buildings Survey (part of the US National Park Service). Retrieved on 2007-03-14.
^ PLANTS Profile. Retrieved on 2007-03-14.