Buxus sempervirens
Common boxwood
Buxus sempervirens, commonly known as common box, is an evergreen shrub prized for its dense foliage and ornamental versatility. Beyond its use in landscaping, this plant holds significant historical importance in traditional medicine, where its chemical constituents have been explored for various therapeutic properties and botanical applications.
- Scientific name: Buxus sempervirens
- Family: Buxaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, known scientifically as Buxus sempervirens, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Buxales. Finally, it is a member of the family Buxaceae and the genus Buxus.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Buxales | WCVP |
| Family | Buxaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Buxus | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Buxus sempervirens, is recognized by various regional common names across different languages. In Luxembourgish, it is referred to as Pällem, while in Basque, it is called Ezpel arrunt. In Polish, the species is known as bukszpan zwyczajny, and in West Frisian, it is identified as Boksbuum. Finally, in Hungarian, it is commonly called örökzöld puszpáng.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| lb | Pällem | Wikidata |
| eu | Ezpel arrunt | Wikidata |
| pl | bukszpan zwyczajny | Wikidata |
| frr | Boksbuum | Wikidata |
| hu | örökzöld puszpáng | Wikidata |
| li | Paumebuimke | Wikidata |
| de | Gewöhnlicher Buchsbaum | Wikidata |
| ja | セイヨウツゲ | Wikidata |
| hsb | Wšědny buksowc | Wikidata |
| sv | Buxbom | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant, Buxus sempervirens, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence can be identified within the territory of Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is also found growing in Austria. Additionally, the plant is documented throughout Germany and Belgium. Finally, its geographical range extends further into the mountainous landscape of Switzerland.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Switzerland | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Corse | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | France | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Portugal | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Buxus sempervirens, utilizes various structures that can be significant in different contexts. The evergreen leaves are small, leathery, and elliptical, providing a dense texture to the shrub. Additionally, the slender twigs are known for their extreme hardness and density, which historically made them useful for fine woodworking. While the single leaf may appear simple, the collective arrangement of the foliage creates the characteristic lush appearance of this medicinal species.- Total parts
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaf | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| twigs | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Buxus sempervirens has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include amentoflavone, flavonoids, knipholone, tannins.
- Total chemicals
- 4
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| amentoflavone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| flavonoids | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| knipholone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tannins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Buxus sempervirens has 3 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antiplasmodial.
- Total activities
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antidiabetic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Antiplasmodial | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Buxus sempervirens has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance.
- Total uses
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 4
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| malaria | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| blood glucose | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| oral glucose tolerance | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |