EuphorbiaceczBuxus. 401 



3. BtJXUS. 



Evergreen shrubs or small trees with alternate exstipulate 

 leaves and axillary bracteolate clusters of polygamous flowers. 

 Perianth of 4 segments in the male, and 4 to 12 segments in 

 the female flowers. Stamens 4. Cells of the capsule 1- or 

 2-seeded. Besides the hardy species, there are several others 

 in Africa and the West Indies. The name is derived from the 

 Greek appellation TTV%OS. 



1. B. sempervlrens. Common Box.- This handsome shrub 

 is indigenous in Surrey, covering a large area on Box Hill. 



The varieties in cultivation are numerous, both variegated 

 and green. There is the dwarf bushy form used for edging, 

 and several varieties with gold and silver striped foliage. 

 B. s. myrtifolia is a robust form with relatively large coria- 

 ceous foliage ; and B. s. rosmarinifolia is a dwarf bush with 

 slender branches and narrow leaves. The names of the 

 varieties, arborescens, angustifolia, rotundi/dtia, etc., suggest 

 their characteristic features. 



2. B. Baledrica.This is a more robust-growing species 

 with yellowish green oblong-elliptical emarginate coriaceous 

 leaves about 2 inches long with a cartilaginous margin. The 

 female flowers only are sessile in this species, whilst in B. sem- 

 pewlrens those of both sexes are sessile. This handsome ever- 

 green shrub is a native of Minorca. 



B. Japonica is a variable species closely allied to the com- 

 mon European B. sempervlrens, differing in the large dilated 

 furrowed rudimentary ovary of the male flowers. 



ORDER CL MORACEJE. 



A small order of trees and shrubs with a milky juice, closely 

 related to our native Stinging-Nettles, and sometimes con- 

 sidered as forming a tribe of the same family. Leaves alternate, 

 simple, entire or lobed, often rough to the touch, and provided 

 with large convolute stipules. Flowers unisexual, incon- 

 spicuous, usually arranged in dense spikes, heads, or catkins. 

 Male flowers with or without a perianth and 3 or 4 stamens. 

 Female flowers with a 3- to 5-lobed or -partite inferior perianth. 

 Fruit composed of 1 -seeded nuts or utricles covered by the suc- 

 culent perianth, collected in heads or enclosed in a fleshy recep- 



D D 



