Duxus scmpcrvireris. 

 THE EVERGREEN BOX-TREE. 



Synoi.ymes. 



Euxus sempervirens, 



Buis toujours vert, Buis commun, Bois 



beiiit, Ozanne, 

 Buchsbaum, linmergruner Buchsbaum, 

 Bussolo verde, Busso, Bosso, 

 Box-tree, 



LiNN^iiTs, Sppcips Plantarum. 



Smith, English Flora. 



Loudon, Arboretum Britanmcum 



France. 



Germany. 



Italy. 



Britain and Anglo- America. 



Derivation. The specific name ia derived from the Latin aemper, continually, and virena, flourishing; in reference to the 

 persistency of the leaves of this tree. 



Engravings. Smith, English Flora, pi. l.'Vll ; Lomlon, Arboretum Britannicuni, iii., fig. 1215; and the figures below. 



Specific Characters. Disk of leaf ovate, convex j footstalk slightly downy at the edges. Anthers ovate- 

 arrow-shaped. Smith, Eng. Flora. 



Description. 



" Nor box, nor limes, vf iihout their use are made, 

 Smooth-grained, and projier for the turner's trade ; 

 Which curious hands may carve, and steel with ease invade." 



ViROIL. 



HE Buxus sempervirens is a well-known 

 hardy evergreen tree or shrub, which, in its 

 natural habitat, s-eldom exceeds a height of 

 twelve or fifteen feet, with a trunk from six 

 to eight inches in diameter; but, in a state of cultivation, it some- 

 times attains double of these dimensions. The thickness of the 

 trunk is very considerable in proportion to its height; and the 

 bark on young wood is of a yellowish hue, but on old trees, it 

 is rough and gray. The leaves, which are opposite, oval, and 

 almost sessile, are of a coriaceous texture, and of a shining, yellowish-green, 

 when they grow in a situation fully exposed to the ligiit; but of a fine, deep, 

 glossy-green, when shaded by other trees. The flowers, which put forth in April 

 or May, are of a greenish-yellow colour, and are disposed in little tufts in the 

 axils of the leaves. The capsules, which contain two small, pendulous seeds, 

 burst their cells, at maturity, with an elastic force, and thereby conduce to their 

 dispersion. 



Varieties. The varieties recognized in this species are as follows : 



1. B. s. ARBORESCENS, Loudoii. Arborescent Evergreen Bo.t ; Bids arborescent, 

 of the French; Baiimartiger BiicJisbaum., of the Germans. This is the most 

 common form of the species, being arborescent, with ovate leaves. 



2. B. s. ANGUSTiFOLiA, Loudon. NarroiD-leavcd Evergreen Box ; Buis a feuilles 

 etroites, of the French ; Schmalbldttriger Bnchsbaum, of the Germans ; arbores- 

 cent, with lanceolate leaves. 



3. B. s. MYRTiFOLiA, Loudoii. Mijrtle-leavcd Evergreen Box; Buis a feuilles 

 de myrte^ 



of the French 



Myrte-Buchsbavm, of the Germans; dwarfy, with 

 A pretty little plant, generally quite low, but, 

 under favourable circumstances, grows to a considerable size. 



4. B. s. suFFRUTicosA, Loudou. Suffruticous Evergreen Box; Buis siiffru- 



small, oblong, narrowish leaves 



