Cephalanthus occidentalis

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Cephalanthus occidentalis
Cephalanthus occidentalis var. occidentalis
Cephalanthus occidentalis var. occidentalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rubiales
Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Cephalanthus
Species: C. occidentalis
Binomial name
Cephalanthus occidentalis
L.

Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush, Button-bush, Button-willow or Honey-bells) is a species of Cephalanthus native to eastern and southern North America.

It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 2-10 m (rarely 15 m) tall. The leaves are opposite or in whorls of three, elliptic to ovate, 7-20 cm long and 3-7 cm broad, with an entire margin and a short petiole. The flowers are produced in a dense globular inflorescence 2.5-3.5 cm diameter on a 2.5–5 cm peduncle. Each flower has a fused white to pale yellow four-lobed corolla forming a long slender tube connecting to the calyx. The stigma is long, protruding from the corolla by about 4 mm.

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

References