Buddleja araucana Phil.

  • Authority

    Norman, E. M. 2000. Buddlejaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 81: 1-225. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Buddlejaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Buddleja araucana Phil.

  • Type

    Type. Chile. Bio-Bio: Near Cupulhue (Copulhue), Volkmann s.n. (holotype, SGO; photo SGO 53889, DLF).

  • Synonyms

    Buddleja globosa var. araucana (Phil.) Reiche, Buddleja nappii Lorentz

  • Description

    Species Description - Dioecious shrub 1-3 m tall, with gray fissured bark, young branches terete, tomentose. Leaves sessile, stipular lines conspicuous, blades linear to lanceolate, 3-9 x 0.8-1.8 cm, coriaceous, tomentose on both surfaces; apex acuminate, base narrowly connate, margin crenulate to subentire. Inflorescence with one terminal head and 1-4 pairs of pedunculate heads in the axils of progressively smaller leaves; peduncles 0.5-5 cm long, each head with 25-35 flowers, 1-2 cm diam. Calyx tubular, tomentose outside, tube 3-4 mm long, lobes 0.7-1.5 mm long, obtuse, margin obscured by tomentum. Corolla light orange, subsalverform, tomentulose outside, with warty hairs inside in upper portion of tube, tube 4-5 mm long, lobes orbicular, 1.2-2 x 2-2.5 mm. Stamens sessile, inserted 0.7-1 mm below sinus, anthers 1-1.2 mm long. Ovary 1.5-2 mm long, tomentose, style 1.7-2 mm long, stigma clavate, 1-1.5 mm long. Capsule oblong ovoid, 4-6 x 2-2.3 mm with glandular trichomes and stellate tomentum on upper half, dehiscing septicidally and loculicidally, valves acute. Seeds type 5, oblong, 1.1-1.4 x 0.4-0.5 mm, with small wings, seed body 0.75-0.85 mm long. 2n = 38.

  • Discussion

    Plants grown at Kew Gardens tend to have larger leaves (to 15 x 2.5 cm) with more amplexicaul bases and nodes further apart than plants in their native habitat. This undoubtedly reflects the less rigorous growing conditions in the Garden. Buddleja araucana may be distinguished from B. cordobensis by their sessile leaves with connate bases and usually crenulate margins. The inflorescences bear fewer heads but they are larger and more floriferous. The perianth’s dimensions are also somewhat larger and the fruits are more elongated.

    The illustration in Smith, 1937 (fig. 7) is of Buddleja araucana rather than of B. globosa.

  • Common Names

    matico, panil

  • Distribution

    Known from the semideserts and steppes of Patagonia, ranging from S Mendoza to Río Negro and Neuquen Provinces in Argentina and adjacent Chile at 300-1500 m. Flowering from November to March and fruiting from December to April.

    Argentina South America| Mendoza Argentina South America| Neuquén Argentina South America| Rio Negro Argentina South America|