Cephalanthus
Genus of flowering plants
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cephalanthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Rubiaceae. There are five extant species[1] that are commonly known as buttonbush.[3][4]
| Cephalanthus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Rubiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cinchonoideae |
| Tribe: | Naucleeae |
| Genus: | Cephalanthus L.[1] |
| Type species | |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis | |
| Species[1] | |
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
They are shrubs or small trees growing to 5–15 m (16–49 ft) tall. The leaves are simple, arranged in opposite pairs or whorls of three. The flowers form a dense globular inflorescence.[citation needed]
Distribution and habitat
Systematics
Cephalanthus was named by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum in 1753.[7] The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek words κέφαλη (kephale), meaning "head", and ἄνθος (anthos), meaning "flower".[8]
Taxonomy
Cephalanthus is the most basal genus in the tribe Naucleeae.[9] Some authors have segregated it into its own monotypic tribe.[10] The type species is Cephalanthus occidentalis.[11]
Species
The following five extant species are accepted:[1][4][12]
- Cephalanthus angustifolius Lour. – Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
- Cephalanthus glabratus (Spreng.) K.Schum. – sarandí – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay
- Cephalanthus occidentalis L. – button-willow, common buttonbush, honey-bells – Cuba, eastern Canada, eastern, central and southern United States, California, Arizona, New Mexico
- Cephalanthus salicifolius Humb. & Bonpl. – Mexican buttonbush, willowleaf buttonbush – Mexico, Honduras, extreme southern tip of Texas
- Cephalanthus tetrandrus (Roxb.) Ridsdale & Bakh.f. – tropical Asia from India to China and Thailand
