Any of various plants constituting the chiefly Eurasian genus Ruscus (family Ruscaceae (formerly included in the Liliaceae)), of evergreen shrubs with flat, stiff, pointed shoots (cladophylls) that resemble leaves; especially butcher's broom, R. aculeatus, which has pale green flowers and is commonly grown in gardens. In later use also (in form Ruscus): the genus itself.