Sarcococca
# Sarcococca

Sarcococca (sweet box or Christmas box) is a genus of 11 species of flowering plants in the box family Buxaceae, native to eastern and southeastern Asia and the Himalayas. They are slow-growing, monoecious, evergreen shrubs 1–2 m (3–7 ft) tall. The leaves 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. The basic chromosome number for genus is 14 (2n = 28).

The genus name Sarcococca comes from the Greek σάρξ (sárx) and κόκκος (kókkos) for "fleshy berry", referring to the black fruit.

## 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.
