Buxus wallichiana
Baill., Monogr. Buxac. 63. 1859. B. sempervirens auct. non L., 1753:
Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 5: 267. 1885, p. p.
Hindi: Chikri.
Shrubs or trees, 3 - 10 (- 15) m tall; branchlets of young shoots 4-angled, hirsute to puberulous with spreading hairs when young Leaves oblong-elliptic, lanceolate to oblanceolate or narrowly obovate to linear-lanceolate, cuneate at base, obtuse or apiculate at apex, (1.5 -) 3.5 - 6 x 0.7 - 1.8 cm, coriaceous, glabrous except the hirsute midrib above and petiole; lateral nerves numerous, distinct; petioles 1 - 2 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, spicate to glomerate; flower clusters rounded, 5 - 8 mm in diam. Male flowers: sessile; sepals 2 + 2, broadly oblong to suborbicular, 2 – 3 x 1.5 – 2 mm; stamens 4 or 5; filaments ca 2 mm long; anthers oblong, ca 1.5 mm long; pistillode small. Female flowers: sessile; sepals 3 + 3, suborbicular, 2 – 3 x 1.5 – 2 mm, thin; ovary ellipsoid, 2 - 3 mm in diam.; styles 3, ca 1 mm long. Fruits oblong-ellipsoid to subglobose, 7 - 10 x 5 - 6 mm, walnut brown; horns 3, divergent, 2 - 3 mm long; seeds compressedovoid, ca 5 x 3 mm, black, glossy.
Fl. & Fr. Dec. - March (-May).
Distrib. India: Temperate regions of W. Himalayas, in moist areas, preferring shaded situations, at 1300 - 3000 m altitudes. Jammu & Kashmir (Jammu region), Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
Uses. Provides timber of silky texture, even-textured and works to an ivory finish. It is used for making croquet balls, geometrical and musical instruments, snuff boxes, combs and fine carvings on cabinet work. Reports indicate that the leaves are fatal to cattle.
Shrubs or trees, 3 - 10 (- 15) m tall; branchlets of young shoots 4-angled, hirsute to puberulous with spreading hairs when young Leaves oblong-elliptic, lanceolate to oblanceolate or narrowly obovate to linear-lanceolate, cuneate at base, obtuse or apiculate at apex, (1.5 -) 3.5 - 6 x 0.7 - 1.8 cm, coriaceous, glabrous except the hirsute midrib above and petiole; lateral nerves numerous, distinct; petioles 1 - 2 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, spicate to glomerate; flower clusters rounded, 5 - 8 mm in diam. Male flowers: sessile; sepals 2 + 2, broadly oblong to suborbicular, 2 – 3 x 1.5 – 2 mm; stamens 4 or 5; filaments ca 2 mm long; anthers oblong, ca 1.5 mm long; pistillode small. Female flowers: sessile; sepals 3 + 3, suborbicular, 2 – 3 x 1.5 – 2 mm, thin; ovary ellipsoid, 2 - 3 mm in diam.; styles 3, ca 1 mm long. Fruits oblong-ellipsoid to subglobose, 7 - 10 x 5 - 6 mm, walnut brown; horns 3, divergent, 2 - 3 mm long; seeds compressedovoid, ca 5 x 3 mm, black, glossy.
Fl. & Fr. Dec. - March (-May).
Distrib. India: Temperate regions of W. Himalayas, in moist areas, preferring shaded situations, at 1300 - 3000 m altitudes. Jammu & Kashmir (Jammu region), Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.
Uses. Provides timber of silky texture, even-textured and works to an ivory finish. It is used for making croquet balls, geometrical and musical instruments, snuff boxes, combs and fine carvings on cabinet work. Reports indicate that the leaves are fatal to cattle.
