Sarcococca
| Sarcococca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| Order: | Buxales |
| Family: | Buxaceae |
| Genus: | Sarcococca Lindl. |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
Sarcococca (sweet box or Christmas box) is a genus of 16-20 species of flowering plants in the box family Buxaceae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia and the Himalayas. They are slow-growing, monoecious, evergreen shrubs 1–2 m (3–7 ft) tall. The leaves are borne alternately, 3–12 cm long and 1–4 cm broad. They bear fragrant flowers, often in winter. The fruit is a red or black drupe containing 1-3 seeds. Some species are cultivated as groundcover or low hedging in moist, shady areas.[1]
The genus name Sarcococca comes from the Greek for "fleshy berry", referring to the fruit.[2]
Selected species
- Sarcococca confusa Sealy - Sweet Box
- Sarcococca hookeriana Baill. (including S. hookeriana var. humilis, syn. S. humilis)
- Sarcococca longifolia M. Cheng
- Sarcococca longipetiolata M. Cheng
- Sarcococca orientalis C. Y. Wu
- Sarcococca ruscifolia Stapf
- Sarcococca saligna (D. Don) Mull.-Arg.
- Sarcococca vagans Stapf
- Sarcococca wallichii Stapf
- Sarcococca zeylanica Baill.