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Cephalanthus occidentalis
C. o. var. occidentalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Gentianales
Family:	Rubiaceae
Genus:	Cephalanthus
Species:	C. occidentalis
Binomial name
Cephalanthus occidentalis L., 1753[1]
Varieties
C. o. var. californicus C. o. var. occidentalis

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

C. occidentalis is a deciduous shrub 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 m (13–33 ft) broad, with a smooth edge and a short petiole. The flowers are arranged in a dense spherical inflorescence 2–3.5 cm (0.79–1.4 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).^[2]

Taxonomy

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

• Cephalanthus occidentalis var. occidentalis (syn. var. pubescens) – Common Buttonbush. Eastern North America from Nova Scotia west to Minnesota and south to Florida and eastern Texas.
• Cephalanthus occidentalis var. californicus – California Button-willow. Southwestern North America, from western Texas west to California (Sierra Nevada foothills, San Joaquin Valley, Sacramento Valley, and the Inner North Coast Ranges) and south to Mexico and Central America.

Habitat

Buttonbush is a common shrub of many wetland habitats in its range, including swamps, floodplains, mangrove, pocosin, riparian zones, and moist forest understory.^[3] It is a member of the flora in the Everglades.^[3]

Ecology

Waterfowl and other birds eat the seeds. Wood Ducks utilize the plant as nest protection. Deer browse the foliage. Insects and hummingbirds take the nectar, with bees using it to make honey.^[3][4]

Uses

C. occidentalis has a number of historical medicinal uses, but it is also toxic due to the presence of cephalathin.^[4][3] It is cultivated as an ornamental and to help control erosion.^[5]

References

External links

• Information related to Cephalanthus occidentalis from Wikispecies.

• Media related to Cephalanthus occidentalis at Wikimedia Commons
• "Cephalanthus occidentalis" (PDF). Digital Representations of Tree Species Range Maps from "Atlas of United States Trees" by Elbert L. Little, Jr. (and other publications). United States Geological Survey. http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/data/atlas/little/cephocci.pdf. 
• USDA Plants Profile: Cephalanthus occidentalis
• Missouriplants: Cephalanthus occidentalis var. occidentalis
• Jepson Flora Project: Cephalanthus occidentalis var. californicus
• Photo gallery

From Wikispecies

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Taxonavigation

Classification System: APG II (down to family level)

Main Page
Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiospermae
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: core eudicots
Cladus: Asterids
Cladus: Euasterids I
Ordo: Gentianales
Familia: Rubiaceae
Subfamilia: Cinchonoideae
Tribus: Cephalantheae
Genus: Cephalanthus
Species: Cephalanthus occidentalis

Name

Cephalanthus occidentalis L.

References

• Species Plantarum 1:95. 1753
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Data from 07-Oct-06]. [1]

For more multimedia, look at Cephalanthus occidentalis on Wikimedia Commons.