Definition

Noun: 1. A taxonomic family of plants: "Box family" is the common name for the plant family Buceraceae, which consists of widely distributed evergreen shrubs and trees. These plants are characterized by their simple, opposite leaves and often small, inconspicuous flowers.

Usage

• The term is used in botanical contexts to refer to this specific family of plants.
• It is a common name, so it is often written in lowercase when not starting a sentence.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "member of the box family": a specific plant species belonging to the Buxaceae family.
  • Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis) is another popular groundcover from the box family.

Variants and Related Words

• Buxaceae (n): The scientific, Latin name for the box family.
  • The genus Buxus is the type genus for the family Buxaceae.
• Boxwood (n): A common name for plants in the genus , which is part of the box family.
  • The fine-grained wood of the boxwood is prized for carving.

Synonyms

• Buxaceae: The formal, scientific synonym.

Notes

• The "box family" is not related to the container called a "box." The name for the plant family comes from the typical genus (boxwood).
• This term refers specifically to the taxonomic grouping. Individual plants are called "boxwoods" or "box trees."

Noun

1. widely distributed evergreen shrubs and trees