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Buxus microphylla japonica (Buxus microphylla japonica)

Description

“Pet poisonous” – Toxic parts: entire plant esp. stem, roots Buxus microphylla, the Japanese box or littleleaf box, is a species of Buxus native to Japan and Taiwan. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree. The leaves are bright green, 10–25 millimetres (0.39–0.98 in) long, oval with a rounded or notched tip. The species was first described from Japanese cultivated plants of an unknown origin; these are dwarf shrubs that only grow to a height of 1 metre (3 ft 3 in), possessing small leaves less than 18 millimetres (0.71 in) long. Plants from Taiwan are distinguished as Buxus microphylla var. tarokoensis S.Y.Lu & Y.P.Yang. Plants from China and Korea formerly often cited as Buxus microphylla var. sinica are now treated as a distinct species Buxus sinica. The species is grown as an ornamental plant, both in its native area and elsewhere in temperate regions around the world. The compact 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. Buxus microphylla var. compacta (Kingsville dwarf boxwood) and similar cultivars are frequently used for bonsai.

Taxonomic tree

  • Domain: Eukarya

    • Kingdom: Plantae

      • Phylum:

        • Class: Magnoliopsida

          • Order: Buxales

            • Family: Buxaceae

              • Genus: Buxus