Buxus — Box. 189 



often at warm periods in winter from December to March, 

 when they never fail to attract attention. The fruit is dark 

 blue, resembling that of several of the other species. The 

 shrub grows from six to nine feet under favorable condi- 

 tions. It is a curious plant, and well worthy of attention. 

 The variety known as the frcebelii has lighter-colored 

 flowers. Another variety, the lucidum, brought from 

 Mount Atlas, has large glossy leaves, and also larger 

 flowers than the original. They appear in early spring. 



The wrinkled-leaved viburnum, V. rugosum, is an ever- 

 green growing from four to six feet. The flowers are not 

 especially attractive, but the peculiarity of appearing in 

 winter creates an interest in the plant. Its habit is much 

 the same as that of the timis, but it is not so hardy and 

 does not hold its foliage so persistently. 



What is known to some as the American black haw is 

 the V. prunifolium, named from its prune-shaped leaves. 

 It becomes a large shrub or small tree, but is less valuable 

 than many of the other sorts named ; still it is not without 

 interest. 



BUXUS— Box. 



THE box is a genus of hardy evergreen shrubs or 

 small trees, of the order Euphorbiace<z. These 

 plants were largely in use among the Greeks and 

 Romans, and were highly spoken of by some of the most 

 noted writers of antiquity. The Greek word indicating 

 the character of the shrub signifies strength, or sometimes 

 a cup, and is supposed to have been applied from the use 

 of the wood, which is especially fine-grained and hard, and 



