Buddleja globosa Hope

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Buddlejaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Buddleja globosa Hope

  • Type

    Type. Chile. Herb Bishop Goodenough (lectotype, designated Burtt, 1986, K; photo, E).

  • Synonyms

    Buddleja capitata Jacq., Buddleja connata Ruiz & Pav., Buddleja globifera Duhamel

  • Description

    Species Description - Dioecious shrub 1-5 m tall, with gray fissured bark, young branches subquadranglar, tomentose. Leaves subsessile or sessile, stipular lines conspicuous, blades lanceolate or elliptic, 5-15(-22) x 2-5(-6) cm, subcoriaceous to membranaceous, above glabrescent, búllate, below tomentose; apex long acuminate, decurrent at base, often connate-perfoliate, margin crenate-serrate. Inflorescence with one terminal (sometimes aborting), and 1-7 pairs of pedunculate heads, the lowest pair subtended by leaves, upper ones by linear bracts; peduncles 1-6.5 cm long, sometimes with bracteoles near midpoint, each head with 30-50 flowers, 1.2-2.8 cm diam. Calyx tubular, tomentose outside, tube 2-3 mm long, lobes 0.7-1 mm long, acute. Corolla deep yellow, turning orange, tubular-funnelform, glabrous outside except for a few stellate hairs near sinus, inside with warty hairs in upper part of tube, tube 4.5-5.5 mm long, lobes orbicular, 1.2-2 x 2-2.5 mm. Stamens sessile, inserted 1.5-1.7 mm below sinus, anthers 1-1.2 mm long. Ovary 1.5-2 mm long, tomentose on upper half, style 1.5-2 mm long, stigma clavate 1.5-1.7 mm long. Capsule ellipsoid, 4-7.5 x 2.5-4 mm, tomentulose and glandular, dehiscing septicidally, valves rounded remaining incurved. Seeds type 4, subglobular to polyhedral, 0.7-0.8 x 0.5-0.6 mm, seed body completely filling seed. 2n = 38.

  • Discussion

    Leaves and infusions or extracts of leaves have been used for ulcerated wounds and sores (Martina, 1983), in liver disease, diarrhea and other digestive problems (Perrez de Barradas, 1957), as an antibiotic (Navas, 1979), and to remove warts (Hartwell, 1970). This species is used in making a tea served in health food restaurants in Argentina (Burkart 9343). It is also used to color coffee (Navas, 1979). Several iridoid glycosides, flavonols, aglycones, and saponins have been isolated from this species (Houghton, 1984; Houghton & Hikino, 1989). The glycosides have antihepatotoxic activity. Houghton (1989) also extracted phenolic fatty acid esters from this taxon. The flowers of B. globosa have a strong fragrance of honey and at Kew Gardens I saw that many honey bees and a lesser number of bumble bees were attracted to them. In England it is one of the food plants of the mullein moth, Cucullia verbasci (L) (Owens & Whiteway, 1980).

    Buddleja globosa is closely related to B. araucana which grows in semi-deserts of Patagonia. It differs from this latter species in its larger more glabrous leaves, larger flower heads with more flowers, shorter calyx, and subglobular seeds without wings.

    Cultivars and hybrids. Buddleja globosa was already in cultivation in gardens of Concepción, Chile, in the 18th century (Ruíz & Pavón, 1798). It was first introduced to England from Chile in 1774 by Lee and Kennedy of the Vineyard Nursery, Hammersmith (Burtt, 1986). It soon became popular in the British Isles as it is an attractive shrub which has a certain degree of frost resistance. Judging from early collections from botanic gardens, it was widely cultivated on the continent in a few decades after its first European introduction. Later it was introduced to gardens of the west coast of United States, especially those in California. It appears to be hardy as far north as British Colombia, Canada, and Edinburgh, Scotland. Unlike B. davidii which was introduced a century later (Owens & Whiteway, 1980), it has not become naturalized. The reasons for this are at least two. Few plants will set fruits and seeds because of the dioecious condition of this species. Also, unlike the seeds of B. davidii which have elongated wings, those of B. globosa are wingless, thus much less likely to be distributed widely by wind currents. Only one specimen seen indicates a possible naturalization: Ireland, Co. Kerry, W of Kenmare, in pasture, wild, Makkink 25236 (L). Conn and Brown (1991) cite one specimen from Australia which indicates that it might be naturalized there, but very infrequently. Charman (1981, 1987) remarked that in his garden in England this species was setting seeds. From the offsprings, he found that the plants which did not produce seeds (staminate) had a better shape and a less straggly growth than the pistillate plants.

    Buddleja x weyeriana is a hybrid between B. globosa (female) and B. davidii ‘Magnifica’ made by Van de Veyer during World War I. Two selections, which are probably back crosses, have been named ‘Golden Glow’ and ‘Moonlight’ (Moore, 1960). ‘Sungold’ is another cultivar with the same parentage and which is said to be more fragrant and hardier than ‘Golden Glow’ (Meyer 15168 NA). Another hybrid made during that period involved B. globosa x B. madagascariensis (Van de Weyer, 1920). He remarked that the leaves are similar to those of B. madagascariensis but the flowers are similar to those of B. globosa, but in larger balls and paler and scentless. I have not seen any specimen of this cross. Buddleja globosa has also been crossed with B. alternifolia (Pike C1666, Oct 1956, sterile, E) and with B. fallowiana (cult. Hort. Bot. Kew, Sep 1927, E).

    Distribution and Ecology: From Copiapó to the isle of Chiloé (Chile) and from C Neuquen to Chubut (Argentina); growing in dry and moist forests, from near sea level to 2000 m, associated with Nothofagus dombeyi, Drimys winteri, and Populus pyramidalis. In the Valdivian Andes of Chile, it is an invading species on mud slides which occur after earthquakes (Veblen & Ashton, 1978). Buddleja connata, here treated as a synonym, is said to have been collected in Peru, dept. Lima, Chancay (Ruíz & Pavón, 1798). The type is the only indication that this species grew in Peru or perhaps was cultivated there in the latter part of the 1700s. The fact that no additional material of this species is available from Peru places in question the authenticity of the original location. Flowering primarily from November to February, fruiting from December to February. In Europe and North America it flowers in May and June.

  • Common Names

    matico, panil, palnin, palguin, retamilla, orange ball tree

  • Distribution

    Chile South America| Aconcagua Chile South America| La Araucania Chile South America| Atacama Chile South America| Biobío Chile South America| Cautín Chile South America| Chiloé Chile South America| Concepcion Chile South America| Arauco Chile South America| Curico Chile South America| Llanquihue Chile South America| Osorno Chile South America| Santiago Chile South America| Valdivia Chile South America| Valparaíso Chile South America| Argentina South America| Chubut Argentina South America| Neuquén Argentina South America| Rio Negro Argentina South America| Salta Argentina South America| Australia Oceania| Canada North America| England Europe| France Europe| Germany Europe| Italy Europe| Portugal Europe| Scotland Europe| United States of America North America|