common boxwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Box
• Caucasian boxwood
• European box
• French boxwood
• Persian boxwood
• Turkish boxwood
• boxtree
• boxwood
• boxwoodtree
• common box
• common boxwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Buxus sempervirens var. angustifolia
• Buxus sempervirens var. myrtifolia
• Buxus sempervirens f. pyramidalis
• Buxus sempervirens f. angustifolia
• Buxus sempervirens f. glauca
• Buxus sempervirens f. pendula
• Buxus sempervirens f. prostrata
• Buxus sempervirens subsp. hyrcana
• Buxus sempervirens f. handsworthiensis
• Buxus sempervirens pyramidalis
• Buxus sempervirens var. humilis
• Buxus sempervirens var. subfrtuticosa
• Buxus fruticosa
• Buxus sempervirens var. grandifolia
• Buxus sempervirens var. rosmarinifolium
• Buxus sempervirens var. rotundifolia
• Buxus sempervirens var. suffruticosa
• Buxus suffruticosa
• Buxus tenuifolia
• Buxus variegata
• Buxus vulgaris
• Buxus salicifolia
• Buxus sempervirens var. fruticosa
• Buxus sempervirens var. putata
• Buxus sempervirens var. arborescens
• Buxus sempervirens var. prostrata
• Buxus sempervirens var. handsworthiensis
• Buxus sempervirens f. rotundifolia
• Buxus sempervirens var. bullata
• Buxus sempervirens f. bullata
• Buxus sempervirens var. glauca
• Buxus rosmarinifolia
• Buxus sempervirens f. aureovariegata
• Buxus myrtifolia
• Buxus arborescens var. aureovariegata
• Buxus mucronata
• Buxus arborescens var. angustifolia
• Buxus marginata
• Buxus arborescens var. argenteovariegata
• Buxus hyrcana
• Buxus sempervirens f. argenteovariegata
• Buxus handsworthii
• Buxus arborescens var. aureolimbo
• Buxus colchica
• Buxus sempervirens var. marginata
• Buxus caucasica
• Buxus sempervirens f. marginata
• Buxus sempervirens f. suffruticosa
• Buxus elegantissima
• Buxus sempervirens f. myrtifolia
• Buxus cucullata
• Buxus sempervirens f. rosmarinifolium
• Buxus crispa
• Buxus sempervirens var. emarginata
• Buxus arborescens
• Buxus argentea
• Buxus sempervirens f. microrrhina
• Buxus aurea
• Buxus sempervirens var. pendula
• Buxus sempervirens var. pendula-variegata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

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.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Buxus sempervirens is characterized by its preference for specific montane environments, primarily thriving within forest and mountain habitats. It occupies a distinct altitudinal niche, with an elevational range that reaches a maximum of 1600 m AMSL and maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1515 m AMSL. Furthermore, in terms of its symbiotic relationships, this species does not form mycorrhizal associations, as indicated by the absence of mycorrhiza in its growth patterns.

Elevational range max:

1600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1515 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, mountains

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Buxus sempervirens is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring a long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on woody branches elevated above the ground, a trait further categorized under the phanerophyte life form classification. It exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally, which allows for continuous metabolic activity when environmental conditions are favorable.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Buxus sempervirens is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically categorized as a shrub. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it remains an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, neither being aquatic nor an epiphyte. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variation in plant height, ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 8 meters, with an average height of approximately 3 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Buxus sempervirens is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-based nutrient uptake. Its leaf morphology is defined by a mean leaf size of 1.3875 cm² and a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 70 cm²/g, indicating a relatively dense and compact leaf structure. Furthermore, the plant possesses a significant stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 910 mg/cm³, reflecting a robust and highly lignified structural composition.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

1.3875 cm²

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

70 cm²/g

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

910 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Buxus sempervirens is characterized by a sexual process that is monoecious in nature, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically commences in March and concludes in April, though the timing can be variable. Pollination is achieved through biotic mechanisms, specifically involving an insect pollination syndrome. The plant does not exhibit self-fertilization, necessitating external agents for successful fertilization. Following pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscence-type capsule fruits, which reach a mean length of 0.8 cm. These capsules contain a high volume of seeds, with a count exceeding 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are uniform in length, measuring consistently at 5 mm, and possess a mean mass of approximately 0.0138815 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.0124 g to a maximum of 0.01628 g). Dispersal is governed by an autochorous syndrome, meaning the plant utilizes autochorous methods to distribute its seeds.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.8 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

monoecious

Seed length mean:

5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.01628 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0138815 g

Seed mass min:

0.0124 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Buxus sempervirens has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products
2. Bioorganic chemistry
3. Cardiovascular & hematological disorders drug targets

Chemicals

Buxus sempervirens has 38 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Amentoflavone, Bebeerine, Bebuxine, Buxaline C, Buxaltine.

Amentoflavone

1. Journal of natural products

Bebeerine

1. Dr. Duke

Bebuxine

1. Dr. Duke

Buxaline C

1. Dr. Duke

Buxaltine

1. Dr. Duke

Buxamine

1. Dr. Duke

Buxandrine

1. Dr. Duke

Buxanine

1. Dr. Duke

Buxarine

1. Dr. Duke

Buxatine

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Buxus sempervirens has 75 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Allergenic, Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, Anemiagenic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry
3. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Anemiagenic

1. Dr. Duke

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiMS

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacne

1. Dr. Duke

Antialopecic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Buxus sempervirens has 3 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include malaria, blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations