Buxus semper virens. 
THE EVERGREEN BOX-TREE. 
Synor.ymes. 
Buxus stmpervirens, 
Buis toujours vert, Buis commun, Bois 
benit, Ozanne, 
Buchsbaum, Immergriiner Buchsbaum, 
Bussolo verde, Eusso, Bosso, 
Box-tree, 
Linn^us, Species Plantarum. 
Smith, English Flora. 
Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum 
France. 
Germany. 
Italy. 
Britain and Anglo-America. 
Derivation. The specific name is derived from the Latin semper, continually, and virens, flourishing; in reference to the 
persistency of the leaves of this tree. 
Engravings. Smith, English Flora, pi. 1341 ; Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, iii., fig. 1215; and the figures below. 
Specific Characters. Disk of leaf ovate, convex ; footstalk slightly downy at the edges. Anthers ovate- 
arrow-shaped. Smith, Eng. Flora. 
Description. 
"Nor box, nor limes, without their use are made, 
Smooth-grained, and proper for the turner's trade; 
Which curious hands may carve, and steel with ease invade." 
Virgil. 
HE Buxus sempervirens is a well-known 
^ hardy evergreen tree or shrub, which, in its 
natural habitat, seldom exceeds a height of 
*"5= twelve or fifteen feet, with a trunk from six ^^) 
to eight inches in diameter; but, in a state of cultivation, it some- ti||s 
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 light ; 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, Loudon. Arborescent Evergreen Box ; Buis arborescent, 
of the French; Baumartiger Buchsbaum, of the Germans. This is the most 
common form of the species, being arborescent, with ovate leaves. 
2. B. s. angustifolia, Loudon. Narrow-leaved Evergreen Box ; Buis a feuilles 
etroites, of the French ; Schmalblattriger Buchsbaum, of the Germans ; arbores- 
cent, with lanceolate leaves. 
3. B. s. myrtifolia, Loudon. Myrtle-leaved Evergreen Box ; Bids d feuilles 
de myrte, of the French; Myrte-Buchsbaum, of the Germans; dwarfy, with 
small, oblong, narrowish leaves. A pretty little plant, generally quite low, but, 
under favourable circumstances, grows to a considerable size. 
4. B. s. suffruticosa, Loudon. Suffruticous Evergreen Box ; Buis sujfru- 
