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Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Summary 11

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.

Cultivation 12

Buttonbush is cultivated as an ornamental plant for a nectar source or 'honey plant' and for aesthetics in gardens and native plant landscapes, and is planted on slopes to help control erosion. Buttonbush is a suitable shrub for butterfly gardens.

Description 12

Cephalanthus 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).

Distribution 12

The species occurs in eastern North America with disjunct populations occurring in the west. In Canada, it occurs from southern Ontario and Quebec east to New Brunswick and south-western Nova Scotia. Besides the eastern United States, and eastern regions of the Midwest, notable areas range into Arizona, the Mogollon Rim, and other mountain ranges; in California, the entire San Joaquin Valley West of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, only western Texas, Arizona, and California find C. occidentalis.

Ecology 12

Waterfowl and other birds eat the seeds. Wood ducks utilize the plant as nest protection, and mallards eat the fruit. Deerbrowse the foliage, which is poisonous to livestock. Insects and hummingbirds take the nectar, with bees using it to make honey. It is a larval host to the hydrangea sphinx, the royal walnut moth, and the titan sphinx.

Habitat 12

Buttonbush is a common shrub of many wetland habitats in its range, including swamps, floodplains, mangrove, pocosin, riparian zones, and moist forest understory. It is a member of the flora in the Everglades.

Medicinal 12

Cephalanthus occidentalis has a number of historical medicinal uses, but it is also toxic due to the presence of cephalathin.

References 12

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San Joaquin Valley landmark tree 12

The town of Buttonwillow, California was named for the buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). A lone buttonbush served as a landmark on an old trans-San Joaquin Valley trail, and was used by ancient Yokut Indians as a meeting place. It later became the site of settlers' stock rodeos. This buttonbush tree is listed as California Historical Landmark No. 492, and is now known as the "Buttonwillow Tree."

Summary 12

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

Taxonomy 12

There are two varieties, not considered distinct by all authorities:

Uses 12

Cephalanthus occidentalis has a number of historical medicinal uses, but it is also toxic due to the presence of cephalathin.

Buttonbush is cultivated as an ornamental plant for a nectar source or 'honey plant' and for aesthetics in gardens and native plant landscapes, and is planted on slopes to help control erosion. Buttonbush is a suitable shrub for butterfly gardens.

Fontes e Créditos

  1. (c) F Delventhal, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/krossbow/49926017296/
  2. (c) Kerry Woods, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/93854456@N03/40200649112/
  3. (c) Kerry Woods, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/93854456@N03/50238151613/
  4. (c) Siddarth Machado, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/siddarthmachado/47968112327/
  5. (c) Leonora (Ellie) Enking, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/33037982@N04/27191088953/
  6. (c) Siddarth Machado, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/siddarthmachado/47968131213/
  7. (c) John Rusk, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY), https://www.flickr.com/photos/john_d_rusk/20398378794/
  8. (c) Anthony Mendoza, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/39039456@N07/5064484443/
  9. (c) Rafael Medina, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/copepodo/9385589971/
  10. (c) Mary Keim, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/38514062@N03/29830139958/
  11. Adaptado por Tricia LeBlanc de uma obra de (c) Wikipedia, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalanthus_occidentalis
  12. (c) Wikipedia, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cephalanthus_occidentalis

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