Buxus microphylla

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Ordo: Buxales

Familia: Buxaceae
Genus: Buxus
Species: Buxus microphylla
Varietates: B. m. var. japonica – B. m. var. kitashimae – B. m. var. pubescens – B. m. var. riparia – B. m. var. tarokoensis
Name

Buxus microphylla Siebold & Zucc., 1845
Synonyms

Buxus obcordata Moore
Buxus obcordata-variegata Fortune
Buxus ovalifolia Siebold ex K. Koch
Buxus rotundifolia Hort. ex K. Koch
Buxus sempervirens Thunb.
Buxus virens Thunb.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental:
known only in cultivation, India (I), Mexico (I)

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Siebold, P.F.v. & Zuccarini, J.G., 1845. Abh. Math.-Phys. Cl. Königl. Bayer. Akad. Wiss. 4(2):142.

Links

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) & IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group 2019. Buxus microphylla. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. IUCN Red List Category: Least Concern. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T143486550A143486552.en.
Hassler, M. 2019. Buxus microphylla. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2019. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Jul. 13. Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Buxus microphylla in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Jul. 13. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Buxus microphylla. Published online. Accessed: Jul 13 2019.
The Plant List 2013. Buxus microphylla in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Jul 13.
Tropicos.org 2019. Buxus microphylla. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2019 Jul 13.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Buxus microphylla in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
English: Japanese Box, Littleleaf Box
español: Boj Japónico, Boj de Hojas Pequeñas

Buxus microphylla, the Japanese box or littleleaf box, is a species of flowering plant in the box family found in Japan and Taiwan.[1] It is a dwarf evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 1 m (3.3 ft) 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 10–25 millimetres (0.39–0.98 in) long, oval with a rounded or notched tip.[2][3] 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.[4] Plants from China and Korea, formerly often cited as Buxus microphylla var. sinica, are now treated as a distinct species Buxus sinica.[5]
Uses

The species is grown as an ornamental plant, both in its native area and elsewhere in temperate regions around the world.[6] It is particularly suitable for topiary or low hedging. Buxus microphylla var. compacta (Kingsville dwarf boxwood) and similar cultivars are frequently used for bonsai.

The cultivar ‘Faulkner’ (1 metre (3.3 ft) tall by 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) broad) has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[7]

In Japan, the wood of Buxus microphylla var. japonica can be used to make a hanko (seal).[8]

Fruit and foliage of a dwarf variety of Buxus microphylla ('Hohman's Dwarf')

Hanko made of Japanese box

References

"Buxus microphylla". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved September 26, 2007.
Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan ISBN 0-333-47494-5.
Bean, W. J. (1976). Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles 8th ed., vol. 1. John Murray ISBN 0-7195-1790-7.
"Buxus microphylla var. tarokoensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved September 26, 2007.
"Buxus microphylla var. sinica". Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved September 26, 2007.
Plants For A Future: Buxus microphylla Retrieved September 26, 2007.
"RHS Plantfinder - Buxus microphylla 'Faulkner'". Retrieved 12 January 2018.
https://www.inkan-takumi.com/service/material_tsuge.html (in Japanese) Inkan-takumi.com