''Pachysandra'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of five species of

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 ...

perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...

s or

subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or undershrub is either a small shrub (e.g. prostrate shrubs) or a perennial that is largely herbaceous but slightly woody at the base (e.g. garden pink and florist's chrysanthemum). The term is often interch ...

s, belonging to the boxwood family

Buxaceae The Buxaceae are a small family of six genera and about 123 known species of flowering plants. They are shrubs and small trees, with a cosmopolitan distribution. A seventh genus, sometimes accepted in the past (''Notobuxus''), has been shown by ...

. The species are

native Native may refer to: People * '' Jus sanguinis'', nationality by blood * '' Jus soli'', nationality by location of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Nat ...

to eastern Asia and southeast North America, some reaching a height of , with only weakly woody stems. The leaves are alternate, leathery, with a coarsely toothed margin, and are typically long. The small uni-sexual blooms are greenish-white and produced in late spring or early summer. Variegated Jade among Pachysandra

Etymology

''Pachysandra'' is derived from the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...

word παχύς (''pachýs'', 'thick') and the

Neo-Latin Neo-LatinSidwell, Keith ''Classical Latin-Medieval Latin-Neo Latin'' in ; others, throughout. (also known as New Latin and Modern Latin) is the style of written Latin used in original literary, scholarly, and scientific works, first in Italy d ...

''-androus'' ('of or pertaining to stamens'), and is a reference to the thick

stamen The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...

s.Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. (hardback), (paperback). pp 63, 287

Species

*'' Pachysandra axillaris'' - China *''

Pachysandra coriacea ''Pachysandra'' is a genus of five species of evergreen perennials or subshrubs, belonging to the boxwood family Buxaceae. The species are native to eastern Asia and southeast North America, some reaching a height of , with only weakly woody ste ...

'' (sometimes classified as ''

Sarcococca ''Sarcococca'' (sweet box or Christmas box) is a genus of flowering plants in the box family (biology), family (Buxaceae). native plant, native to eastern and southeastern Asia, and the Himalayas, with one species native to Central America. They ...

coriacea'') - India, Nepal, Myanmar *'' Pachysandra procumbens'' - Allegheny Pachysandra (southeast United States) *'' Pachysandra stylosa'' - China (sometimes treated as a

variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

of ''P. axillaris'') *''

Pachysandra terminalis ''Pachysandra terminalis'', the Japanese pachysandra, carpet box or Japanese spurge, is a species of flowering plant in the boxwood family Buxaceae, native to Japan, Korea and China and introduced to eastern North America. It is a slow-growing, s ...

'' - China, Japan3. Pachysandra A. Michaux
''Flora of China''

Cultivation and uses

''Pachysandra'' can grow in deep-shade areas and is thus well-suited and popular as

ground cover Groundcover or ground cover is any plant that grows low over an area of ground, which protects the topsoil from erosion and drought. In a terrestrial ecosystem, the ground cover forms the layer of vegetation below the shrub layer known as the ...

for

shade gardens Shade gardens are a type of garden planted and grown in areas with little or no direct sunlight. Shade gardens may occur naturally or by design under trees, as well as on the side of buildings or fences. This style of garden presents certain chall ...

. There are several varieties used in the garden landscape, all of which are deer-resistant: * The most commonly used species is ''P. terminalis'', or Japanese spurge, which is an aggressively spreading evergreen ground cover. * 'Variegata' has leaves attractively variegated green and creamy white, with a slower growth/spreading rate as P. ''terminalis''. * 'Green Sheen' Pachysandra has extra glossy dark green leaves and slowly spreads. * 'Green Carpet' Pachysandra has deeper semi glossed green leaves than the common P. ''Terminalis'', with prominent veining, more toothed serrations to the leaf edge, and a shorter more compact growth habit. All species in this genus prefer a well-drained soil with a high

humus In classical soil science, humus is the dark organic matter in soil that is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter. It is a kind of soil organic matter. It is rich in nutrients and retains moisture in the soil. Humus is the Lati ...

content.

References

External links

Buxaceae Eudicot genera Groundcovers {{eudicot-stub