Family: Buxaceae — boxwood family

New England's sole member of the Buxaceae is a colonial shrubs with alternate, simple, evergreen, leathery leaves. Flowers may be single or grouped into inflorescences. The flowers are unisexual, and individual plants may have either pollen-bearing or ovule-bearing flowers, or both. The flowers are actinomorphic (radially symmetrical). The flowers have no petals and may or may not have sepals; when present, these attach below the ovary (i.e., the ovary is superior). There are four or more stamens in the pollen-bearing flowers, and the ovule-bearing flowers have 3 styles. The fruit is fleshy.

This family’s genera in New England

• Pachysandra

Visit this family in the Dichotomous Key

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