Shrubs [trees], not clonal. Leaves opposite or subopposite; blade margins entire, surfaces shiny. Inflorescences axillary and terminal, spikes or capitate clusters [racemes]. Staminate flowers basal; tepals 4; pistillode present. Pistillate flowers 1 per inflorescence, apical; tepals 5 or 6; ovary 2- or 3-carpellate; locules 1 per carpel; stigma decurrent; interstylar nectaries or nectariferous tissue present; ovules 2 per locule. Fruits capsules, broadly oblong [globose or ovoid], loculicidally dehiscent, splitting into 2 or 3 valves, forcibly ejecting seeds at maturity, usually glabrous; style persistent. Seeds 2 per locule, black, oblong; with rudimentary aril. x = 14.

Distribution

Introduced; Mexico, West Indies, Central America, n South America, Europe, Asia, Africa.

Discussion

Species ca. 70 (1 in the flora).

The structures subtending the pistillate flowers are ambiguous; they may be tepals or bracts. The taxonomy and nomenclature of Buxus are unsettled. Species and cultivars other than B. sempervirens are likely to persist from cultivation.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Buxus sempervirens