BUXUS 



some species, grow in the warmer temperate regions 

 only. B. sempen'irens stands pruning very well, and 

 "m the old formal gardens of Europe was formerly much 

 used for hedges, and sometimes trimmed into the most 

 t:intastii-al shapes ; the dwarf variety is still often 

 pliuitfil for bordering flower beds. The very hard and 

 ciose-grained wood is in great demand for engraving 

 and finer turnery work. The Box Tree thrives in almost 

 any well-drained soil, and best in a partially shaded 

 position. Prop, by cuttings from mature wood early in 



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BUXUS 



197 



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fall, kept during the winter in the cool greenhouse or 

 under handlights in the open ; in more temperate re- 

 gions they may be inserted in a shady place in the open 

 air ; 4-6 in. is the best size for outdoor cuttings. Layers 

 will also make good plants. The dwarf variety is usu- 

 ally propagated by division. In planting borders, it is 

 essential to insert the divided plants deeply and as firmly 

 as possible, and to give plenty of water the first time. 



Seeds are sown soon after maturity, lout it takes a long 

 time to raise plants of good size from them. 



semp6rvirens, Linn. Comsion Box Tree. Fig. 292. 

 Shrub or small tree, to '-'.'. It.: In"niclns quadrangular, 

 sparingly pubescent: 1\>. m\ -il ,.M,,iiir or oval, rarely 

 roundish oval or lanceoljii-'. ii-ii.tll> ohtuse, M-IM in. 

 long: fls. in axillary ilust. r^ : ^laminate fls. sessile, 

 with a gland half as loiin :i~ ih. calyx in the center. S. 

 Eur., N. Afr., Orient, China. \civ variable in size, 



color and shape of the Ivs. : s..i f tin- most cultivated 



forms are the following : \'ai-. angustiiolia. Loud. ( var. 

 lonqifdlia, Hort. ; var. siilinfulia , Hort.). Lvs. narrow, 

 oblong-lanceolate, usually slirubby. Var. arbor6Bcens, 

 Linn. Tall shrub or small tree : lvs. usually oval. Var. 

 argfinteo-marginita, Hort. Lvs. edged white. Var. 

 atirea, Hort. Lvs. yellow. Var. ailreo-marginita, Hort, 

 Lvs. edged yellow. Var. Buffrutiodsa, Linn. (var. nitia, 

 Hort.). Dwarf : lvs. small, oval or obovate : flowering 

 clusters usually only terminal. 



Jap6nica, Muell. Arg. {B. oheorddia, Hort. B. F6r- 

 tunei, Hort-). Shrub, 6 ft.: lvs. cuneate, obovate or 

 roundish obovate, obtuse or emarginate at the apex, 

 K-IK in. long, with usually pubescent petioles ; clus- 

 ters axillary ; staminate fls. sessile, with a central gland 

 as l.>m,' as the calyx. China, Japan. — Nearly as hardy as 

 llir foniirr. There are also some variegated forms. 



microphylla, Sieb. & Zucc. (B. Jap6nica, var. micro- 

 phfilhi, iMuell. Arg.). Dwarf, often prostrate shrub, 

 quite glabrous : lvs. obovate or obovate-lanceolate, K-1 

 in. long : clusters mostly terminal ; staminate fls. ses- 

 sile, with a central gland, like the former. Japan. 



BaleArica, Willd. Shrub, 6-15 ft.: lvs. elliptic or 

 oblong, acute or obtuse at the apex, 1-2 in. long, light 

 green : clusters axillary ; staminate fls. pedicelled. S. 

 Spain, Balear. — Handsome shrub, but less hardy than 

 the former. 



B. CalUdrnica, Lk. = Simmondsia CaUfornica.— B. Fdrtunri, 

 Hort. = B. Japonica.— £. Hdrlandi, Hance. Branches pubes- 

 cent : lvs. narrow obovate, emarginate, %-l% in. long. China. 

 —B. longifdlia, Boiss. Lvs. narrow-elliptic or lanceolate, 1-1% 

 in. long. Orient, China.— B. longUblia, Hort. = B, sempervi- 

 reiis, var. angustifolia.— B. Wallichiana. Baill. Branches pu- 

 bescent : lvs. linear-elliptic, 1-2K in. long. Himalayas. 



Alfeed Eehder. 



