Cephalanthus occidentalis

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

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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:

• 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.

References

• USDA Plants Profile: Cephalanthus occidentalis
• Missouriplants: Cephalanthus occidentalis var. occidentalis
• Jepson Flora Project: Cephalanthus occidentalis var. californicus