Sarcococca Explained
Sarcococca (sweet box or Christmas box)[1] [2] is a genus of 11 species of flowering plants in the box family Buxaceae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia and the Himalayas. They are slow-growing, monoecious, evergreen shrubs 1- tall. The leaves are borne alternately, 3–12 cm long and 1–4 cm broad.
The plants bear fragrant white flowers, often in winter. The fruit is a red or black drupe containing 1–3 seeds. Some species are cultivated as groundcover or low hedging in moist, shady areas.[3] The basic chromosome number for genus is 14 (2n = 28).[4]
The genus name Sarcococca comes from the Greek σάρξ (sárx) and κόκκος (kókkos) for "fleshy berry", referring to the black fruit.[5]
Selected species
References
Notes and References
- The Plant List: http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=sarcococca
- Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs, Redwood Burn, 1998
- Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. 2008. Dorling Kindersley. United Kingdom. 978-1-4053-3296-5. 1136.
- Book: Kubitzki, Klaus. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. Vol. 9. Flowering Plants. Eudicots: Berberidopsidales, Buxales, Crossosomatales, Fabales p.p., Geraniales, Gunnerales, Myrtales p.p., Proteales, Saxifragales, Vitales, Zygophyllales, Clusiaceae Alliance, Passifloraceae Alliance, Dilleniaceae, Huaceae, Picramniaceae, Sabiaceae.. Springer Science & Business Media. 2007. 978-3540322191. 43. For Sarcococca, diploids with 2n=28 (less frequently, tetraploids) are recorded..
- Book: Coombes, Allen J.. The A to Z of plant names. 2012. Timber Press. USA. 978-1-60469-196-2. 312. registration.
