4533.000 Buxus L.

Small, usually much branched trees and shrubs; glabrous throughout. Leaves opposite, entire, coriaceous. Flowers in short compact spikes, often consisting of a terminal flower subtended by bracts in the axils of which are 2–4 flowers. Male flowers with 4 perianth segments, 2 outer and 2 inner ones, equal or unequal; rudimentary ovary truncate or 3-lobed at apex or absent. Female flowers with 4–6 perianth segments; ovary 3-locular; styles 3, thick, grooved and with recurved stigmatic part; ovules 2 per locule. Fruit capsular, dehiscing loculicidally, valves each with 2 apical, horn-like projections, representing remains of the styles; endocarp hard, separating from exocarp at maturity. Seeds usually 3-ridged or ovoid-oblong, with black, shiny testa.

Worldwide: 30 species, widely distributed in Eurasia, southern and tropical Africa, Madagascar and Central America.

Malawi: 1 taxon.