Plants usually trees or shrubs, rarely herbs, monoecious or dioecous. Leaves without stipules, simple, evergreen, usually opposite, rarely alternate, usually leathery,and with entire margins, dentate in one genus (Pachysandra). Inflorescences usually dense spikes, clusters, or cymes. Flowers small, unisexual; perianth segments sepal-like, membranous or apparently absent. Staminate flowers: tepals 4; stamens 4-6(-10), rarely numerous, if 6 2 of them usually opposite the inner pair of tepals; filaments absent or rudimentary; ovary rudimentary or absent. Pistillate flowers: tepals 4-6, usually much larger than the staminate flowers; staminodes absent; ovary superior, 3-celled; styles 3, entirely free or basally connate styles; ovules 1-2 per cell, pendulous, anatroppus. Fruits loculidially dehiscent capsules or drupes, often with an endocarp that detaches at maturity. Seeds black, shiny; endosperm fleshy.
The Buxaceae is a family of 4 genera and about 50 species wich grow in in all parts of the world except South America. The only genus native to Africa is Buxus.