Buddleja sessiliflora

Buddleja sessiliflora
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Buddlejaceae
Genus: Buddleja
Species: B. sessiliflora
Binomial name
Buddleja sessiliflora
Kunth
Synonyms
  • Buddleja barbata Kunth & Bouché
  • Buddleja melliodora Kunth & Bouché
  • Buddleja pringlei Gray
  • Buddleja pseudoverticillata Martens & Galeotti
  • Buddleja verticillata Kunth
  • Buddleja verticillata Sessé & Moc.
  • Buddleja wrightii B. L. Rob.

Buddleja sessiliflora is endemic to southern Arizona, the extreme south of Texas, northern Baja California and much of central and northern Mexico excluding the Chihuahua Desert. The shrub grows in thorn savannah, forests, riparian woodland, along roadsides and in disturbed areas from sea level to 2,800 m. The species was first named and described by Kunth in 1818. [1] [2]

Description

B. sessiliflora is a trioecious shrub or small tree 1.5 - 5 m tall, the trunk reaching < 7 cm diameter, its fissured bark yellowish-brown. The young branches are subquadrangular, yellowish, the youngest sections tomentose. The leaves vary widely, those at the base ovate, 9 - 23 cm long by 5 - 14 cm wide, the margins serrate, whilst the upper leaves are lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, 5 - 15 cm long by 1.5 - 3 cm wide, the margins entire or irregularly serrulate. The upper surfaces of both are generally glabrescent. The yellow leafy-bracted inflorescences are 6 - 25 cm long, comprising sessile or short pedunculate heads 1 - 3 cm in diameter, each with 10 - 35 flowers. The scent of the flowers is generally regarded as unpleasant, 'like ammonia but sweeter'. [2]

Cultivation

The species is known to be in cultivation in France at Le Jardin de Rochevieille.

References

  1. ^ Kunth, in Humboldt, Bonpland, and Kunth. (1818). Nov. gen. sp., ed. fol. 2:278, ed. quar. 2:345, t184, 1818.
  2. ^ a b Norman, E. M. (2000). Buddlejaceae. Flora Neotropica 81. New York Botanical Garden, USA