''Buxus microphylla'', the Japanese box or littleleaf box, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

in the box

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

found in Japan and Taiwan. It is a dwarf

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

shrub or small

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, e.g., including only woody plants with secondary growth, only ...

growing to tall and wide.

Description

In the case of ''Buxus microphylla'' var. ''japonica'', the tree height is usually 1-3 m, but it can reach up to about 4 m; in rare cases it grows to 10 m. The trunk is upright and about 10 cm thick, and the bark is grayish white to pale brown. The bright green leaves are long, oval with a rounded or notched tip.Huxley, A., ed. (1992). ''New RHS Dictionary of Gardening''. Macmillan .Bean, W. J. (1976). ''Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles'' 8th ed., vol. 1. John Murray . The species was first described from Japanese cultivated plants of an unknown origin. They are unknown in the wild.

Taxonomy

The scientific name for Japanese box is ''Buxus microphylla'' var. ''japonica''. Plants from Taiwan are distinguished as ''Buxus microphylla'' var. ''tarokoensis'' S.Y.Lu & Yuen P.Yang. Plants from China and Korea, formerly often cited as ''Buxus microphylla'' var. ''sinica'', are now treated as a distinct species '' Buxus sinica''.

Uses

The species is grown as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

, both in its native area and elsewhere in temperate regions around the world.

Plants For A Future Plants For A Future (PFAF) is an online not for profit resource for those interested in edible and useful plants, with a focus on temperate regions. Named after the phrase "plans for a future" as wordplay, the organization's emphasis is on perenni ...

''Buxus microphylla''
Retrieved September 26, 2007. It is particularly suitable for topiary or low hedging. ''Buxus microphylla'' var. ''compacta'' (Kingsville dwarf boxwood) and similar cultivars are frequently used for

bonsai Bonsai (; , ) is the Japanese art of Horticulture, growing and shaping miniature trees in containers, with a long documented history of influences and native Japanese development over a thousand years, and with unique aesthetics, cultural hist ...

. The cultivar 'Faulkner' ( tall by broad) has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...

. In Japan, the wood of ''Buxus microphylla'' var. ''japonica'' can be used to make a ''hanko'' (seal).https://www.inkan-takumi.com/service/material_tsuge.html (in Japanese) Inkan-takumi.com File:Fruit on Buxus microphylla, angled view.JPG, Fruit and foliage of a dwarf variety of ''Buxus microphylla'' ('Hohman's Dwarf') File:Hanko made of Japanese box.jpg, Hanko made of Japanese box

References

microphylla Trees of Korea Trees of Japan Plants described in 1845 Taxa named by Philipp Franz von Siebold Taxa named by Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini {{eudicot-stub