Buxus ichangensis Hatus.

Shrubs, 15-30(-100) cm tall; branchlets terete; young branches dense, tetragonous, very slender, ca. 0.5 mm in diam., densely or sparsely pubescent. Petiole ca. 1 mm; leaf blade oblanceolate or narrowly obovate, 10-16 × 4-6 mm, thinly leathery, glabrous on both surfaces, adaxially shining, base cuneate, apex rounded, with mucronate tip; midrib elevated on both surfaces or only adaxially. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, capitate; rachis pubescent; bracts ovate, 1-2 mm, acute. Male flowers 8-12; pedicels ca. 0.4 mm; tepals ovate, 1.8-2 mm, bracts and tepals reddish brown interrupted striate; stamens 4-5 mm; sterile pistil slender, with terete gynophore, apex inflated, 1.4-1.8 mm, subequal to tepals in length. Female flowers: tepals ovate-oblong, ca. 2.5 mm; ovary longer than style, glabrous. Capsule ellipsoid or oblong, ca. 5 mm, shining, longitudinally grooved; persistent style ca. 2 mm, slender; stigma decurrent to middle part of style. Fl. Mar, fr. Jul.

W Hubei (Badong, Yichang, Zigui).

● Stony areas on riverbanks; below 100-300 m.