''Sarcococca ruscifolia'' (野扇花) is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. They include all forbs (flowering plants without a woody stem), grasses and grass-like plants, a vast majority of ...
in the box
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
Buxaceae, native to China (Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Shanxi, Sichuan, C, NW, and SE Yunnan),
where it inhabits forested mountain slopes. Growing to tall and broad, it is a compact
evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...
shrub with shiny oval leaves. Fragrant white flowers in winter are followed by red berries.
The Latin
specific epithet ''ruscifolia'' means “with leaves like ''
Ruscus
''Ruscus'' is a genus of six species of flowering plants, native to western and southern Europe, Macaronesia, northwestern Africa, and southwestern Asia east to the Caucasus. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Aspa ...
'' (butcher’s broom)”,.
''Sarcococca ruscifolia'' is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is
hardy
Hardy may refer to:
People
* Hardy (surname)
* Hardy (given name)
* Hardy (singer), American singer-songwriter Places Antarctica
* Mount Hardy, Enderby Land
* Hardy Cove, Greenwich Island
* Hardy Rocks, Biscoe Islands
Australia
* Hardy, Sout ...
down to but prefers a sheltered spot in full or partial shade. The cultivar ‘Dragon Gate’ has gained the
Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (No ...
’s
Award of Garden Merit.
References
ruscifolia
Flora of China
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