The Box Family
What are they?
The Box Family has only a single species (Common Box) that is native to the UK and is much better known among gardeners for the range of winter- or early spring-flowering subshrubs and groundcover plants that it contains. These are evergreen plants with often very tough, shiny leaves. The petalless flowers appear in tight clusters in the leaf axils and can be highly fragrant in some species.
Where are they found?
Although several members of this family are widely grown as amenity plants, none have yet been recorded in the wider countryside. Common Box has been widely planted in churchyards, cemeteries, parks and in the wider countryside in woodland on shooting estates.
Identification
The tough, shiny leaves of Common Box and its all-pervading smell make it a relatively easy plant to identify, though certain species of evergreen honeysuckle and even privet are sometimes mistaken for it.
Common Box Buxus sempervirens
Considered native in parts of SE England but an ancient introduction in East Anglia, possibly since Roman times. Widespread and common in churchyards, cemeteries and parks and also planted on shooting estates for pheasant cover in woodland. Flowers April to May. Can become a tree in woodland, to 10m in height but often forms a sprawling bush, much lower in height. The petalless flowers are carried in bundles consisting of 5-8 male flowers and a single female flower. The evergreen leaves are 1.2-2.5cm in length. They have a very tough, almost plastic feel to them and this, together with the very distinctive, pungent scent, distinguishes this species from similar plants such as privets and evergreen honeysuckles.
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Balearic Box Buxus balearica
Introduced from the Mediterranean region and occasionally used as an amenity plant. Has been recorded from Cambridge. Flowers April to May. Very similar to Common Box but typically stouter-branched; leaves average larger, 2-4cm long and with less rounded bases.
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Carpet Box Pachysandra terminalis
Introduced from Japan as a garden ornamental. Frequently used in amenity areas as a groundcover plant and occasionally noted as a garden escpae or throw-out. Flowers April to May. A creeping subshrub spreading by means of stolons. Stems 20-30cm in height with leaves borne in whorl-like clusters along the stems. Flowers carried in a spike, the smaller female flowers at the base, the larger male flowers towards the top. All flowers petalless, but the cluster appears white due to the colour of the prominent stamens on the male flowers.
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