Sarcococca
| Sarcococca | |
|---|---|
| |
| Sarcococca humilis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Buxales |
| Family: | Buxaceae |
| Genus: | Sarcococca Lindl. |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
Sarcococca (sweet box or Christmas box) 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
- Sarcococca confusa Sealy – Sweet box
- Sarcococca hookeriana Baill.
- Sarcococca humilis Stapf
- Sarcococca longifolia M. Cheng
- Sarcococca longipetiolata M. Cheng
- Sarcococca orientalis C. Y. Wu
- Sarcococca pruniformis (Saracodine courier)
- Sarcococca ruscifolia Stapf
- Sarcococca saligna (D. Don) Mull.-Arg.
- Sarcococca vagans Stapf
- Sarcococca wallichii Stapf
- Sarcococca zeylanica Baill.
References
- ^ The Plant List: http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=sarcococca
- ^ Hilliers Manual of Trees and Shrubs, Redwood Burn, 1998
- ISBN 978-1-4053-3296-5.
- ISBN 978-3540322191.
For Sarcococca, diploids with 2n=28 (less frequently, tetraploids) are recorded.
- ISBN 978-1-60469-196-2.