Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Summary 4

Cephalanthus occidentalis is a species of flowering plant in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that is native to eastern and southern North America. Common names include buttonbush, common buttonbush, button-willow and honey-bells.

Description 5

C. occidentalis is a deciduousshrub or small tree that averages 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) in height, but can reach 6 m (20 ft). The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, elliptic to ovate, 7–18 cm (2.8–7.1 in) long and 4–10 cm (1.6–3.9 in) broad, with a smooth edge and a short petiole. The flowers are arranged in a dense spherical inflorescence 2–3.5 cm (0.79–1.38 in) in diameter on a short peduncle. Each flower has a fused white to pale yellow four-lobed corolla forming a long slender tube connecting to the sepals. The stigma protrudes slightly from the corolla. The fruit is a spherical cluster of achenes (nutlets).

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Carol Foil, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/9403463@N05/3815441384
  2. (c) Tyler Christensen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Tyler Christensen
  3. (c) Gary House, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Gary House
  4. Adapted by Brittney Georgic from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalanthus_occidentalis
  5. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalanthus_occidentalis

More Info

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